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OR, 


z 

la. 


THE THREE COUNTESSES. 


/ 

BY MRS. ELIZABETH VAN LOON. 

) > 

Author of "A Heart Twice Won; or. Second Love,** 

** The Shadow of Hampton Mead,** etc. 






Most of the characters in '* Under the Willows ” are American, but the action shifts 
from the New World to the Old— from this country to Europe, France, and Italy, 
and is a strange mixture of reality and romance. Characters the most contrasted 
are brought together in the strangest and the most unexpected combinations. Inci- 
dents the most startling are adroitly narrated with so much vraisemblance that the 
reader will be puzzled how to take them ; yet the improbable eventually turns out to 
be the truth, and what might be anticipated from their results does not occur. In 
these days, when society novels, historical novels, professional novels, literary novels, 
tourist novels, and sensational novels are very numerous, it is well, if only by way 
of relief, to have a story in which the writer, following the aboriginal example, so 
carefully ^'covers up her tracks f almost from the very first chapter, that the inge- 
nuity of even practised readers is kept on the gui vive until the wholly unexpected 
winding up. *' Under the Willows” is a romance of unbroken interest, in which the 
wild and wonderful are more largely developed than in most compositions of its class. 
In this respect it eclipses “A Heart Twice Won,” and “The Shadow of Hampton 
Mead preceding and popular works from the same pen. 




V 


PHILADELPHIA; ^ ' V i " 

T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS; 

306 CHESTNUT STREET. 


1 ! 




copyright: 

1879. 



A Heart Twice Won; or. Second liOve. By Mrs. Elizabeth Van Loon, 
author of “ Under the Willows,” The Shadow of Hampton Mead,” etc. 

Now and then a new writer appears to take the reading world by storm. In this cat- 
egory may be placed the author of “A Heart Twice Won ” (a capital title), in which 
the mystery of the plot is at once veiled and half revealed. A most experienced critic, 
who read tiie work in manuscript, and who has probably read two-thirds of tlie novels 
of the last forty years, says, ‘“A Heart Twice Won’ viast hit the public taste, and 
bo a brilliant success. That it is by a new writer, is very evident; it is equally obvious, 
from the delicacy and force with which the plot has been framed and worked out to a 
legitiinare conclusion, as M*ell as from the development of the respective characters, that 
a lady is the author. It is pure as well as passionate. Moreover, the incidents, some- 
times startling, are put together in a skilful manner, and are all within the legitimate 
limit of probability. The scene, alternately in Virginia and in Europe, is always accn- 
rately realisiic — whether the action takes place on a fc^outhern estate, or amid fashionable 
society in London, or (still more dilhcult to depict) in an Karl’s ancestral castle in rural 
England. Nothing can exceed the easy grace, and truth of the last. The dialogue is at 
once natural and expressive ; and, above all, this is, most intensely, a thorough love tale, 
uud if you would know iiow ‘A Heart was Twice Won,’ do not fail to read this strange, 
sentimental, iind absorbing story. It is just the book to create a sensation, and meet 
widiawarm welcome from the public, if any book will.” This opinion, though not 
written for publication, accurately characterizes “A Heart Twice Won.” 

Tlio Slnatiow of Hampton A Sfory of Three Families, By Mrs. 

Elizabeth Van Loon, author of “A Heart Twice Won,” Under the Willow's,” etc. 

“The Shadow of Hampton Mead ” is the story of three families, two of which aro 
Americans, and the varying fortnnes of each and all of IhcvSeare related with a force and 
freshness which may startle, but must please. Hampton Mead, a plantation in North 
Carolina, is described with a great deal of personal liking and pride, its principal feat- 
ures being placed before the reader with a painter s skill and a poet’s feeling. Such, 
indeed, was to be expected from the pen of Mrs. Elizabeth Van Loon, who had hhow n in 
a previous and very popular work, “A Heart Twice Won,” how well she could place 
the scenery which she loved, because she was familiar with it from her youth, before 
admiring readers In “The Shadow of Hampton Mead” she takes a bolder and 
higher tlight. The story opens in this country, and when well developed, is transferred 
to England, where, in full contrast, life-passages and love-passages are presented — not in 
London alone, but in an Karl’s palatial home, in Lancashire, and in an ocean-washed 
castle on the rocky coast of Cornwall. There is infinite variety in the plot as well ns in 
the characters, and the wind-up of this romantic tale, in w hich the “ wrong is made 
right,” dispenses poetical justice to all, with retributive punishment to the wrong-doers. 

UiHler the Willows; or. Tlio Tliroo Cowotossos. By Mrs. Elizabeth 
Van Loon, author of “A Heart Twice Won,” “The Shadow' of Hampton Mead,” etc. 

Most of the characters in “Under the Willows” are American, but the action shifts 
from the New World to the Old — from this country to Europe, France, and Italy, and is 
a St ango mixture of reality and romance. Characters the most contrasted are brought 
ttjgether in tho strangest and the most unexpected combinations. Incidents the most 
startling are adixdtly narrated with so much vraiseinbiance that tlie reader will be jniz- 
zb‘<i how' to take them ; yet the improbable eventually turns out to be the truth, and 
wliat might he anticipated from their results does not occur. In those days, when soci- 
ety novels, historical novels, professional novels, literary novels, tourist novels, and sen- 
sational nov^ils are very numerous, it is well, if only by way < f relief, to have a story in 
which the w'riter, following the aboriginal example, so carefully “covers ui> her tracks,” 
almost from the very first chapter, that the ingenuity of even practised readers is kept 
on the qui vive until the wholly unexpected winding up. “Under the Willows” is a 
romance of unbroken interest, iu which the wild and wonderful are more largely devel- 
o])ed than in most compositions of its class. In this respect it eodipses “A Heart Twice 
Won,” and “The Shadow of Hampton Mead,” preceding and popular W’orks from the 
same pen. 


UlTDEE THE WILLOWS 


RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 

TO 

DR. R SHELTON MACKENZIE, 

Op Philadelphia. 


BY THE AUTHOR. 









CONTENTS. 



Chapter Page 

I. THE KOSE OF BEECHLANDS 21 

II. WILL SHE YIELD? 30 

III. DOCTOR MORELAND 37 

IV. THE EARL OF MONTFORD 45 

V. MOONLIGHT UNDER THE WILLOWS . 55 

VI. THE BRIDAL MORN 62 

Vn. THE NEW HOME 70 . 

Vin. THE RUBY RING 79 

IX. VANISHED HOPES 87 

X. THE WAIF 93 

XI. TIT FOR TAT 101 

XII. MRS. HAMMOND’S VISIT Ill 

XIIT. THE DISAPPEARANCE 123 

XIV. CAPTAIN RUSSELL 134 

XV. OUTWITTED 150 

XVI. DOCTOR Peyton’s story 159 

XVII. GOING HOME 165 

• XVIII. THE FOOTSTEP BY THE GRAVE 182 


( 19 ) 


CONTENTS 


20 

Chapter Page 

XIX. THE TWO FACES 195 

XX. THE ARTIST 202 

XXI. THE earl’s visit 210 

XXII. ANOTHER VICTIM 227 

XXIII. A STARTLING DISCOVERY 236 

XXIV. SPARE THOSE BEAUTIFUL WILLOWS .... 247 

% 

XXV. THE DISASTER 259 

XXVI. A GLOOMY HOUSE 267 

XXVII. AFTER MONTHS OF .WAITING 280 

XXVIH. A WEARY HEART FINDS REST AT LAST. 287 






UNDER THE WILLOAVS; 


OR, 


THE THREE COUNTESSES. 


CHAPTER I. 


THE ROSE OF BEECHLANDS. 


“ The bloom of opening flower’s unsullied beauty, 

Softness, and sweetest innocence she wears, 

And looks like nature in the world’s first spring.” — Rowe. 


AN it be a dream, a misty, shadowy, half- 



forgotten dream, or is it stern reality ? 
Looking back on a few past years of our lives 
and noting the many strange and mysterious 
changes through which we have passed — say in 
the short space of five years — and yet, what an 
age the space of five years seems to the young 
and enthusiastic — those whose young thoughts 
traverse far into the future, with all the rosy 


( 21 ) 


22 


U X D E K THE WILLOWS. 


tints of a bright summer morning, without the 
experience of the scorching rays of the noon- 
day sun, or the chilling gloom of the dark, 
dark night, when no star appears in the blue 
sky above, on which to fix their gaze with a 
sweet thrill of hope; but to those who have 
bravely rode the wave of the many changes, 
and have sipped the bitter cup, and have gath- 
ered the roses and lilies by the way -side, and 
admired their lovely tints and inhaled the 
sweet aroma they emitted, the space of five 
years is as a dream to be remembered in after 
years with feelings of mixed emotions. Oh that 
time had not flown so rapidly in those young 
days, that we could have paused longer to ad- 
mire the rose and lily, and not have spent so 
much time in looking for the thorns ! 

Not very far from the beautiful State Capital 
of Virginia, stands a large, old-fashioned mansion 
built of stone. It stood upon a slight eminence 
overlooking tlie James river, on whose bosom 
float tlie many graceful boats that steam up as far 
as Richmond, and no farther. This plantation. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


23 


which was called Beechlands, was owned by Mrs. 
Hammond, and her daughter Nora. 

This favored woman of fortune had been left 
a widow very young, with but the one child. 
Since the first days of her widowhood, she had 
never known what it was to enjoy a day of 
perfect health. In all Virginia there could not 
be found a more proud and more haughty woman 
than this frail, delicate creature, who seldom 
ever left the shadows of her old mansion. All 
those who came in direct contact with her, were 
finally compelled to yield their wills to hers; 
even when that little germ every one carries in 
their hearts of ruling their own destiny — as 
far as we are free agents — is concerned. 

All day long the bright May sun had shone 
upon the earth, and its soft, warm breath, like 
a mother’s kiss, had brought into full bloom 
many rare, sweet flowers. Never did the skies 
of Italy or sunny France look more blue or 
serene than did, on this day, those over the old 
Dominion ; never was the Bay of Naples flecked 
with more gorgeous tints than were reflected on 


24 


UI^DER THE WILLOWS. 


the bosom of the peaceful waters of the James 
river ; never was air laden with more rich 
perfumes, sweeping over Oriental Isles than 
floated into Mrs. Hammond’s south window, 
near which she reclined in her invalid’s chair, 
over which floated her snowy wrapper, gazing 
idly out upon the picture spread before her — 
and altogether the picture was beautiful in 
the extreme. When we look at the many 
natural beauties of Virginia, is it to be wondered 
at that she has produced so many heroes ? 

Mrs. Hammond had just passed her thirty- 
fourth year, but notwithstanding all her years 
of suffering, relentless Time seemed to have 
dropped her from its wheel, so kindly and gently 
it seemed to have dealt with her. In her early 
youth this woman had been pronounced one of 
the most beautiful and fascinating of her sex in 
New Orleans. That was when the roses of health 
glowed upon her cheeks, and she was still very 
beautiful now, when the lily had taken the place 
of the rose. 

She was a pure type of the dark Southern 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


25 


beauty, with features chiseled after the most 
exquisite model. Hair black, and as glossy as a 
raven’s wing, waved over her clear snowy brow. 
Her eyes were large and dark, arched by slender, 
black brows, and shaded by sweeping lashes. Her 
mouth was beautifully formed and her lips were 
as crimson as luscious strawberries ; but the strong 
ruling will of her character was expressed in its 
haughtiness. 

Mrs. Hammond watched the sun until it crept 
lower and lower in the west ; then, with a little 
weary sigh, she left her station at the window, 
and going to a table that stood in the centre of 
her room, tapped a silver bell, which was 
answered by a tidy negro woman, who stood 
respectfully before her, and in soft subdued 
tones said : 

What is your pleasure, my dear mistress?” 

The lady flashed her dusky eyes up into the 
negro woman’s face, as she asked. 

Nancy, where is your young mistress ? ” 

I saw her under the willows a few moments 
ago gathering violets,” said Nancy, gently. 


26 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Go tell Miss Hammond, I wish to see her in 
my room at once/^ said the lady. ^^Was Miss 
Hammond alone, Nancy ? ” 

She was alone when I saw her, mistress ; but I 
think Dr. Moreland is with her at present, as I 
saw him coming up on the opposite side of the 
stream as if he intended to join Miss Nora, where 
she was.’^ 

A slight tremor passed over Mrs. Hammond’s 
form, as she said: Hasten, Nancy, and find 

her and tell her to come to me without delay. 
You need not return to me until I ring for you, 
for I shall not go down to dinner.” 

^Yery well, my dear mistress,” said Nancy, 
going out softly. 

In less than ten minutes a joyous young crea- 
ture came bounding in, and knelt gracefully at 
her mother’s feet. 

Where have you been all the afternoon, 
Nora ? ” said the mother, coldly. 

The little dark head was lifted proudly, and the 
sweet young voice answered: Under the wil- 

lows, gathering violets, mamma, and dreaming oh, 
such a sweet, sweet, happy dream, until the voice 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 27 

of mammy Nance awoke me and called me to 
earth again.” 

Who was your companion,” asked the mother, 
and for a moment her snowy hand rested upon 
the little dark head in her lap. 

I have been alone all the afternoon, mamma, 
until about an hour ago, when I was joined by 
Hugh,” and the tender young voice sank to a 
whisper. 

The mother could feel that slight graceful 
form tremble with deep emotion. Then she lifted 
her white hand from her daughter’s head, and her 
voice assumed a colder tone, as she said : 

Miss Hammond, you are a young lady now, 
and it is high time you were beginning to think 
of settling in life. Sit down, I want to have a 
talk with you upon this very subject. Jerry 
went to the city this morning and brought me a 
letter from the young Earl of Montford, who 
solicits your hand in marriage.” 

With a start of surprise, Nora said, ^^It is a 
great pity, dear mamma, to have to disappoint 
his most gracious Highness, but I am already 
engaged. Dear mamma, do you not see dear 


28 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


Hugh’s ring sparkling upon my finger, where 
he placed it this afternoon as we loitered by 
the water.” 

A pure, holy, innocent light came into the deep 
dusky eyes of the girl as she held up her hand 
for her mother to see the sparkling gem resting 
thereon. A light coming from a heart whose 
every throb had beaten for the last three years 
for none save him who placed that gem there. 

Mrs. Hammond’s very lips grew pale at her 
daughter’s words. She arose to her feet and her 
voice rang out cold and sharp on the evening air, 
as stamping her small delicate foot passionately, 
she said : 

Miss Hammond, I am surprised beyond meas- 
ure at the announcement you have dared now 
to declare to me. Why should young Doctor 
Moreland take advantage of your youth, and 
without my consent have the unheard of impu- 
dence to bind you to an engagement that can 
never end in marriage. By this one act he has 
forfeited my esteem for ever. He is penniless and 
without a name, save as a very distant relative of 
your father 5 and for all my solicitious kindness 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


29 


to him and his sister in the last ten years, he has 
turned and stung the hand that fed him. This 
engagement shall never he consummated. Nora, 
I am your mother, and that ring shall be returned 
to the giver, and ere a grave is made for mo 
in that leafy shade, you shall be the Countess cf 
Montford.” 

Without another word, but trembling with 
passion, Mrs. Hammond turned and left her 
room. Nora sat like a marble statue, stunned and 
chilled by her mother s cutting words. The rose 
of Beechlands was as joale as the purest lily, but 
quickly rallying, she arose and darted hurriedly 
from the room. She flew, rather than walked 
down the broad stairway, out into the grounds, and 
down to the margin of the crystal stream which was 
bordered on either side by graceful trees, some 
of whose boughs floated out upon the placid 
waters. Here, a little later on, the moon arose, its 
soft sheeny light penetrating the mixed boughs, 
falling upon the cold stricken form of the young 
Kose of Beechlands, the rich Nora Hammond, — 
and yet so poor. 


30 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


CHAPTER II. 


WILL SHE YIELD? 


Light as the angel-shapes that bless, 

An infant’s dream, yet not the less 
Rich in all woman’s loveliness; — 

With eyes so pure, that from their ray 
Dark vice would turn abash’d away, 

Blinded, like serpents when they gaze 
Upon the emerald’s virgin blaze! 

Yet filled with all youth’s sweet desires. 

Mingling the meek and vestal fires 
Of other worlds with all the bliss. 

The fond weak tenderness of this I 
A soul, too, more than half divine. 

Where through some shades of earthly feeling. 
Religion’s soften’d glories shine. 

Like light through summer foliage stealing. 
Shedding a glow of such mild hue, 

^o warm, and yet so shadowy too, 

As makes the very darkness there 

More beautiful than light elsewhere ! — Moore. 


She was like a dream of poetry, that may not be written or told 
— exceeding beautiful. — Willis. 



OW long Nora remained in this condition 


Jl_1_ she did not know, when she felt some 
one lift her gently, and say : 

There, Miss Nora, my angel, do not grieve so, 
it will all come right sometime. I heard what 
my mistress told yon of the young Doctor, and of 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


31 


that other one from over the sea. Return to the 
house out of the night air, and thank the Blessed 
Lord, that this is not all of life. It is but the 
beginning, and, Miss Nora, you know what the 
blessed book says, ^ children obey your parents.’ 
You are very young, my beautiful, my darling, 
and in all probability have a long life before you. 
Take my advice, child, and yield to your mother’s 
wishes. If you disappoint her in this marriage, 
upon which she has set her heart, it may be the 
means of snapping the frail cord by which she 
clings to life.” 

This faithful servant had been the playmate in 
childhood of Mrs. Hammond, who had taught her 
to read and write, and she had but little, if any, 
of the dialect belonging to her race. There was 
also much of good sound sense in many of 
Nancy’s sayings. Nora Hammond had almost as 
much faith and trust in her words and advice, as 
she had in those of her mother or Doctor More- 
land. Looking up into her old nurse’s face, she 
said : 

Mammy Nance, my poor heart will break if 

dear mamma persists in forcing this union upon 
2 


32 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


me. I utterly detest the Earl of Montford, and 
love young Hugh Moreland with all the strength 
of my soul ; and oh, it will be as cruel as death 
and the grave to separate us from each other.” 

“Hearts do not break so easily,” said Nancy, 
gently. 

By this time they had come from under the 
willows, and Nancy| placed her young mistress 
gently upon her feet. The moon shone full upon 
her young, dark face, and how marvellously beau- 
tiful it was, in this the first great sorrow that had 
ever come to her. Nora Hammond was a perfect 
type of what her mother had been at her age. 
Graceful as the southern willow from under which 
she had just come ; a clear dark complexion, eyes 
like dusky stars, rich silky hair of midnight 
blackness falling upon her shapely shoulders. 
A few hours ago the roses of health and happi- 
ness were glowing upon her cheeks ; now they 
were as pale as her invalid mother’s. 

“ Oh, mammy Nance, I wish I could sleep 
here forever, and avoid all this contention with 
mamma. As you say, life hangs here upon 
a mere thread ; if I was not afraid of snapping 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


33 


that thread I would fly from my home and never 
return to it again, rather than remain here 
and have to become the wife of Lord Montford. 
What fate ever threw that man in my way ? And 
Hugh, dear Hugh, whom I thought mamma loved 
so much, am I to return his ring and cease to 
love him? No, that I can never do. I have 
loved Hugh from my earliest recollection, and 
shall love him till I die. People can not love 
more than once — can they, mammy Nance V\ 

I do not know. Miss Nora. But go to your 
mother again, and talk this matter over calmly 
with her. Tell her how it will grieve you and 
master Hugh to be torn apart ; tell her of your 
great dislike to the Earl of Montford, and if she 
will not consent to give you to the man of your 
choice, write, and tell his Lordship just how 
matters stand, and if he is the gentleman he 
should be, he will relinquish all thought of want- 
ing to make you his wife.’’ 

At this suggestion from mammy Nance, the 
young creature seemed animated with hope, and 
with a more buoyant step she followed Nancy on 


34 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


to the old house and went softly up to her 
mother’s room. Mrs. Hammond was lying down 
when her daughter entered, her eyes were closed, 
and the sweeping lashes rested upon the trans- 
parent cheeks. Nora paused for some time and 
looked down upon her. Could it be possible that 
these were mother and daughter. This pale dark 
beauty lying there so still and the other so much 
like her with that awed look upon her face ; 
and stooping, she put her cheek near to her 
mother’s, and when she felt her warm breath, 
knew that she was not dead. A great load was 
lifted from her young heart. 

Nora was turning to leave the room when Mrs. 
Hammond said, Nora, my daughter, wheel that 
low chair up near my bed and sit down while I 
talk to you; and be very careful while we are 
talking not to excite me, for I am unusually 
nervous to-night.” 

Tremblingly, and without a word, Nora obeyed. 

^^Nora Hammond, I am very sorry that you, 
the last one bearing your father’s grand old 
name, have so far forgotten yourself as to accept 
of an engagement ring from one in every way so 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


35 


unworthy of your hand as Hugh Moreland. It 
was very unkind of him to presume upon my 
generosity to his sister and himself, not to come 
to me before addressing you as a lover. Occupy- 
ing the position you do in society ; belonging to 
one of the oldest and best families in the State, 
besides being mistress of almost fabulous wealth, 
it behooves me as a dying mother, to select a suit- 
able husband for you. The young Earl of Mont- 
ford is, I think, in every way worthy of you. He 
is now in Canada, but will be here in June. I 
hope to see you Countess of Montford ere I close 
my eyes in death.’’ 

When the mother saw the cold upbraiding look 
upon her face, that her words had brought there, 
she said: 

You may leave me now, Nora, and send Nancy 
to my room.” 

With a great effort, Nora arose and went from 
her mother’s presence. When Mrs. Hammond 
was left to herself she arose from her couch, sat 
down at her writing desk and penned a short 
note to Doctor Moreland. By the time the note 
was finished Nancy came in. Giving her the note, 


36 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Mrs. Hammond said: ^^Tell Jerry to deliver this 
note to Doctor Moreland the first thing in the 
morning. You can leave me now, and go and 
attend upon your young mistress. Keep a sharp 
watch over her, and when Doctor Moreland 
arrives in the morning, conduct him at once to 
my room without giving him an opportunity dt 
seeing Miss Hammond alone.’’ 

A peculiar expression settled around this 
haughty mother’s mouth as she dismissed Nancy, 
who went out and sought her husband, to whom 
she delivered her mistress’ note with directions 
what to do with it. When this was accomplished, 
she sought her nursling’s room. She found Nora 
with her face buried in the pillows. She went 
to the stricken one’s side, and lifting the little 
dark head, laid it against her heart, speaking 
tender, soothing words to allay her grief, while 
her heart ever asked the question, ^^Will Miss 
Nora yield her will to her mother’s, and become 
Countess of Montford? She must, to save Miss 
Helen, for whom I would lay down my life. Yes, 
she must yield.” 

-f 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


37 


CHAPTER m. 


DOCTOR MORELAND. 

The waters of my life were sweet, 

Before that bolt of sorrow fell.” — Bay ard Tatlob. 

“Day dawns, the twilight gleam dilates. 

The sun comes forth, and, like a god. 

Rides through rejoicing heaven.” — Southey. 

EXT morning, when the early May-sun was 



-hi tinting the tree-tops, and kissing with its ^ 
bright lips the waters of the river, which went 
dancing merrily onward and onward to meet the 
deep and ever restless sea, came young Doctor 
Moreland, a personal answer to Mrs. Hammond’s 
note. Early as was the hour he cast his eyes 
from side to side as he rode through the grounds, 
lioping to catch a glimpse of Nora, whose bright 
young face was ever his sunlight reflecting its • 
rays around him ; and the tones of whose voice 
ever made sw^eetest music to his soul. He was 
disappointed, his becautiful darling was no where 
in sight. He rode up to the old mansion. A 


38 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


servant was there to care for the horse until its 
young rider should return. Nancy met him at 
the door, as Mrs. Hammond had requested her 
the night before, and conducted him immediately 
to her mistress’ room. 

Mrs. Hammond was seated at her accustomed 
place by the open window. The fresh morning 
breeze, coming in laden with the delicate perfume 
of flowers, kissed her pale cheeks, and gently 
fanned the little curls of dark hair that strayed 
over her brow. 

Good morning, cousin Helen,” said the young 
Doctor, cordially extending his hand. am 

greatly rejoiced to find you sitting up and look- 
ing so well.” 

‘^Thanks,” she said in a tone altogether new 
to her visitor, who looked searchingly into her 
face, as she, somewhat coldly, bade him be 
seated. 

He complied with her request, and she said, I 
presume you were somewhat surprised at receiv- 
ing my note this morning ? ” 

Not so much to receive your note, cousin 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


39 


Helen, as to find you so much improved. I had 
supposed you had sent for me professionally.’' 

summoned you solely on a point of busi- 
ness, Doctor Moreland, and will pass at once into 
the subject. The truth is, I wish to employ a 
trustworthy person to go to San Francisco, and 
attend to some business for me there. As I am 
willing to pay very liberally I thought I would 
give you the opportunity of seeing that country 
in the far West, while at the same time you will 
be gaining a few months of rest from your pro- 
fessional labors. My daughter. Miss Hammond, 
informed me last night of what has passed 
between her and yourself. Of course under 
existing circumstances, I should wish to further 
your interests in every possible way. I might 
say, that our interests should be identical.” 

At this, Moreland arose from his chair, knelt 
at the proud lady’s feet, and taking one of her 
hands in his own, pressed it gracefully and 
tenderly to his lips, murmuring as he did so, 

May God forever bless you, cousin Helen, for 
you have made me a very happy man. I only 


40 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


hope that I may be able to transact your business 
successfully.” 

There, Doctor Moreland ! do not be so gallant 
with me/’ said Mrs. Hammond, drawing her hand 
away from his, and trying to smile ; but this 
attempt was a miserable failure, for just then her 
daughter’s stricken face, as she had seen it the 
night before, arose before her vision, and she 
hastily said : Doctor Moreland, if you undertake 
this business for me, you will in all probability be 
absent three or four months. I wish you to 
depart by the very first steamer, w^hich leaves 
New York for the Pacific shore one week from 
to-day. To meet this steamer, you will have to 
set out for New York immediately. You must 
also promise me that you will not attempt to see 
Nora, or bid her good-bye.” 

A sudden spasm of pain passed over the young 
man’s face, as he asked : 

But, my dear Madame, what will she think of 
me if I leave without one parting word with her, 
and for so long an absence, too ? ” 

Mrs. Hammond brightened up a little, as a 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


41 


sudden thought seemed to enter her brain : 
‘‘ Nora is very young, Doctor Moreland, and this 
very plan of leaving her without telling her 
good-bye, will be a good way by which to test 
the depth and strength of her love.” 

No need to resort to anything so cruel, Mrs. 
Hammond, to test the strength of Nora’s love. I 
should certainly try. to please you.” 

Thanks,” said Mrs. Hammond, smilingly. 
^^My daughter has not yet arisen, but I will 
explain everything to her after your departure, 
and you can write to her from New York. I am 
Nora’s mother, Doctor Moreland ; surely you can 
trust me to arrange this little matter between 

o >> 

you? 

Yes, I can and will trust you, cousin Helen. 
Say that after this mission is accomplished, and I 
return to Virginia, you will reward me with the 
bestowal of your daughter’s hand?” No thought 
of mischief of any kind had entered his honest 
mind. 

^^Let me see,” said the lady. “This is now 
the middle of May. We will presume that you 


42 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


will be absent three months ; that will bring it to 
the middle of August. As I before remarked to 
you, Miss Hammond is very young, and when 
you return to Virginia it will be time enough 
to decide when your marriage will take place.” 

Hugh Moreland again took her hand in his 
own, and his fine blue eyes kindled with a grati- 
tude that mere words could not have expressed, 
as he said : Cousin Helen, you have been more 
than kind to my orphan sister and myself, and I 
earnestly hope that I, in a measure, may be able 
to repay you in part for this. Now promise me, 
if Lulu returns during my absence, that you will 
kindly look after her as you have for the last ten 
years, and I will try to be content, and depart on 
this mission for you, without again seeing Nora.” 

I will certainly do this ; but I thought that it 
was a settled fact that Lulu was to remain in 
Lome for another year ? ” 

So it was,” he said, but from the tone of 
her last letter, which I received nearly three 
weeks ago, she seems to have a yearning desire 
to return to Virginia. A change has come over 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


43 


her ; I do not know what it is, but a change 
there is. She seems to have lost all interest in 
her beautiful art, which I deeply regret, as her 
talents were so promising. So I should not be 
surprised if she returned to the United States 
any day. But with the assurance that you will 
provide for her should she return during my 
absence, I will rest contented on that point, for 
next to my beautiful Nora, I love my sister. 
Lulu.” 

This manly young doctor of twenty-five dashed 
away the tears he could not keep back. For a 
moment, when she looked upon him, Mrs. Ham- 
mond was almost half tempted to relinquish the 
scheme she had lain awake nearly all the previous 
night to perfect, namely, to manoeuvre how to 
remove him as far as possible from Virginia, 
before the arrival of Montford from Montreal. 
With Moreland far away upon the shores of the 
Pacific coast, this scheming mother thought she 
would have less trouble in accomplishing her 
designs upon her daughter than if he remained 
near her. So pride and ambition smothered the 


44 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


better and more tender feelings of her heart. So 
she succeeded in persuading Moreland to leave 
Beechlands without seeing Nora. 

As he rode through the grounds, where he had 
parted from her the evening before, it seemed to 
him as if the cold fingers of death were clutching 
at his very heart strings. Would he and his love 
ever stand there again, just as they had then, 
with the clear limpid waters singing and dancing 
at their feet, sporting with the willow boughs 
that trailed upon its bosom ? Would nature ever 
again appear so smiling and lovely? Would the 
birds ever sing again so sweetly, or soft south 
winds kiss so gently the awakening spring 
flowers ? Would the May-moon ever again re- 
veal so pure and holy a picture ? 

As we sit to-night and trace this story, strange 
and true, a cold shiver runs over us, when we 
think of the time, and how and when young 
Doctor Moreland and the beautiful Eose of 
Beechlands ’’ did meet again. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


45 


CHAPTER ly. 


THE EARL OF MONTFORD. 

“ What is wedlock forced but a hell, 

An age of discord and continual strife ? 

Whereas the contrary bringeth forth bliss, 

And is a pattern of celestial peace.” — Shakespeare. 

“ Of all the passions which possess the soul, 

None so disturbs vain mortal’s minds, 

As vain ambition.” — E arl of Sterling. 


' “ How can I live without thee, 

How forego thy sweet converse and love so dearly joined ? ” 

— Milton. 



UGH MORELAND left Richmond that night 


J — L for New York. His beautiful little cottage, 
situated a mile from Beechlands, was closed, and 
the immediate neighborhood was without a phy- 
sician. Holly Cottage ” was only five miles from 
Richmond, and the young doctor would be sorely 
missed. The ambitious mistress of Beechlands 
thought little of the great sacrifice he was making 
in giving up his lucrative practice, to go on a 
mission that could have been as well accom- 


46 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


plislied through her agents in San Francisco. 
But in sending him on this mission, she only 
thought of furthering her own plans in marrying 
oh her beautiful young daughter to a nobleman. 
She had no care to swell the bulk of her fortune, 
for that was already vast. 

She let the morning and the afternoon pass 
without summoning her daughter to her presence. 
When the sun was sinking low in the west she 
rang her bell for Nancy, of whom she asked : 

How is your young mistress, this evening, 
Nancy?” The mother made this enquiry with 
apparently little concern for the welfare of her 
child. 

Miss Nora is much better, my dear mistress, 
I am happy to say. She is up, and dressed for 
dinner. 

Ah, I am truly glad to hear that she is bend- 
ing her mind to reason,” said the mother, while 
a smile wreathed her lips. ^^Go and tell Miss 
Hammond I await her in my room. 

In less than half an hour later, Nora stood in 
her mother’s presence. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


47 


She was attired in a full dinner dress, with 
soft lace trimmings, which greatly set oh her 
dark beauty. A half -blown tea-rose nestled 
in the masses of her dark hair, and a small 
cluster of buds and rose - geranium leaves rested 
at the throat. 

When the mother’s eyes took in this beautiful 
effect she could not refrain from exclaiming : 
^^Nora, how exceedingly lovely you are, you 
ought to be the wife of a king, and would 
grace a throne ! ” 

Nora’s eyes shone like two bright stars, as she 
smilingly said, Thank you mamma, for the 
compliment you pay me,” and she pressed her 
lips tenderly to the mother’s brow, saying : 

Dear mamma, I hope some day to be the wife 
of one whom I think superior to any king,” and 
then a tender glow dyed her young cheeks, and a 
tender smile parted her lovely lips. 

To whom do you refer ?” was coldly asked. 

Nora toyed for a moment with the diamond 
ring Hugh had placed upon her finger, ere she 
replied. 


48 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


You know very well, mamma, to whom I 
refer.” 

Have you seen Doctor Moreland since we 
parted last evening. Miss Hammond ? ” 

I have not, mamma ; but he promised me last 
evening, when we parted, to come and dine with 
us to-day. I have been sitting at my window 
watching for him for the last hour. Perhaps he 
has a patient very ill, and he may not be able to 
reach Beechlands by the usual dinner hour, but I 
know he will come sometime during the evening, 
if possible. 

Mrs. Hammond did not think it advisable to 
inform her daughter to the contrary, and just then 
a servant appeared at the door with a note for 
herself. She took it eagerly and broke the seal. 
It was very brief, as follows : 

“Holly Cottage, 

May 15th. 

^‘Dear Cousin Helen: — I leave Richmond 
to-night for California. Hugh.” 

That was all. There was no allusion to the 
business upon which he had gone, no word, no 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


49 


good-bye to poor Nora. He bad rigidly kept his 
faith with her mother, even though in doing so 
his heart was rent with the keenest agony. Mrs. 
Hammond handed the note to her daughter, 
requesting her to read it. 

Nora did so, and instantly, a deathly paleness 
settled around the beautiful, tender mouth. Oh, 
the deep and bitter anguish that came to that 
young heart on reading this brief note. She, 
poor child, did not know that Moreland had been 
to Beechlands that morning, or that her mother, 
whom she looked upon as having one foot in 
the grave and the other tottering upon the very 
verge,” as the saying is, with her foolish ambi- 
tious pride, was plotting against the peace and 
happiness of both their lives. We shall not do 
this foolish mother the injustice of saying that 
knowingly and wantonly she doomed her only 
child to misery and suffering ; for in a measure 
she was wholly unconscious of doing any great 
wrong to her daughter when she perfected her 
plan of sending her lover away. She, herself, 
had been an only child, and something of an 


50 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


heiress in New Orleans ; and when the elderly 
but wealthy Mr. Hammond of Virginia, met and 
fell in love with her, then a beautiful maiden 
of seventeen, she had felt greatly flattered, and 
readily yielded to her father’s wishes when he 
asked her to look favorably upon the wealthy 
Virginian. It so happened that her affections 
were not otherwise engaged, therefore she made 
no sacrifice of feeling when, a few months later, 
she became Mr. Hammond’s wife. The stronger, 
purer, deeper depths of woman’s love had never 
been stirred in her heart. Even three years later, 
when she was a widow, with her little daughter 
clinging to her knee, that great love the allwise 
Creator has implanted in the human heart, still 
lay dormant ; therefore she could not fully under- 
stand the nature of that all-absorbing love, that 
dwelt in the bosom of her child, for him who had 
vowed eternal and undying affection for her, the 
evening before. 

Although our little heroine seems to fall so 
readily into her mother’s plans, she was not a 
weak girl by any means. Indeed she was a 


UNDEE THE WILLOWS. 


51 


brave girl, and did not faint and fall upon the 
floor like a heroine of romance, when she read that 
note to her mother ; but as she gazed upon the 
delicate face of her whom she had been taught, 
since her earliest recollection, never to excite, 
she even put on a brave bold face, and said, even 
while her poor young heart was dying within 
her, And so, dear mamma, I suppose this is the 
end of my first love-dream.’’ 

The sound of her low broken voice had scarcely 
died away, when the colored footman appeared 
with the card of a visitor. 

The Earl of Montford ? ” exclaimed Mrs. 
Hammond in some surprise. 

The Earl of Montford ! ” echoed Nora faintly. 

Oh, my fate is sealed.” Then with a deathly 
look, she turned and went slowly out of the 
room. 

A faint tinge of color came into Mrs. Ham- 
mond’s face, as she bade the servant show his 
Lordship into the suite of rooms over the draw- 
ing-rooms, and to add that she would be happy 
to meet him in the drawing-room in a half hour, 
soon before dinner. 


52 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


The servant gone, Mrs. Hammond said to 
Nancy: ‘^^Lay me out a full dinner dress and 
arrange my hair at once, as I do not wish to keep 
Lord Montford waiting.’’ Nancy so obeyed these 
personal instructions that, half an hour later, as 
her mistress surveyed herself in her full length 
mirror, she smiled as she saw how youthful she 
was looking. 

In the meantime, where was the young heiress 
of Beechlands ? On leaving her mother’s room, 
she had gone below and wandered out into the 
grounds, until she found herself under the grace- 
ful spreading willows, to the very spot where she 
and young Moreland had plighted their troth and 
dreamed of a heart’s first pure love twenty-four 
hours ago. The May moon was brighter, if 
anything, than on the previous night, but Nora 
Hammond could see no beauty in its soft luring 
rays, for he who had sat with her when all nature 
seemed so bright, was gone from Beechlands, and 
his vine-covered cottage, to which she used to 
love to wander in her sweet innocent day excur- 
sions, was closed. He was far on his way to New 


UNDER THE AV I J. L O W S . 


53 


York now, without even bidding her “ good-bye,” 
and a man she felt she could never love, but 
whom her imperious mother was determined she 
should marry, was awaiting her at the old family 
mansion. Was it any wonder that this child of 
scarcely seventeen summers should throw herself 
down, and give way to tears. Very bitter those 
tears were, for they were the first that had ever 
been wrung from her young heart by a disap- 
pointment of any kind. Many times in life 
her noble heart has been stirred with the deepest 
feelings of pity and love, but never a wave of 
anguish like this had swept over her young soul. 
Finally, with a prayer upon her lips, she partly 
subdued this grief, and returned slowly to the 
house to meet Lord Montford — a person whom 
she had beheld but once before. She had met 
him in Richmond a few months before at the 
hotel where she and her mother were spending 
some days, at the time when the nobleman, with 
his tutor, were also stopping there. Nora barely 
remembered him as a tall, slender, rather hand- 
some man, perhaps three and twenty years old, 


54 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


with brown hair, violet eyes, and a mouth almost 
womanish in its weakness. With this recollection 
she compared the Earl of Montford with Hugh 
Moreland, the Virginian ; but the comparison 
made her sick at heart, and like a martyr, 
bravely meeting her fate, she re-entered the 
housQ, to join her mother and the noble guest 
at dinneir. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


55 


CHAPTER Y. 

MOONLIGHT UNDER THE WILLOWS. 

“Seems, madam! nay, it is; I know not seems, 

’Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother. 

Nor customary suits of solemn black. 

Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, / 

No, nor the fruitful river in the eye. 

Nor the dejected ’havior of the visage. 

Together with all forms, modes, shows of grief. 

That can denote me truly. These, indeed, seem. 

For they are actions that a man might play; 

But I have that within, which passeth show; 

These, but the trappings and the suits of woe.” 

— Shakespeare. 

“Love reckons hours for months, and days for years; 

And every little absence is an age.” — Dryden. 


N ora went up stairs to her room, naturally, 
being a woman, to rearrange her hair and 
see that her toilet was perfect. On going into the 
state apartments, she was somewhat surprised by 
the change in Lord Montford since they had met 
in Richmond a few months before. He had 
gained in flesh, while his mouth, which then had 
looked weak, was nearly concealed by a heavy 
dark brown moustache. All this the young lady 


56 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS.- 


took in at a glance, after the fashion of women, 
while her mother seemed intent upon making 
her guest feel at ease. Nora’s manner was very 
cold, as following the custom — now nearly obso- 
lete — she greeted in that old custom, the visitor, 
by shaking hands with him. 

Shortly after Nora entered the drawing room, 
dinner was announced. The young Earl could 
make himself very pleasing, when he was so 
minded. He was highly educated, possessed 
conversational powers, and at the table, exerted 
himself to the utmost to please the beautiful 
girl who sat opposite him, and also her dainty 
mother. 

After the meal was over, they arose from the 
table and as usual, returned to the drawing-room. 
Shortly after, Mrs. Hammond excused herself for 
the night, on the plea of fatigue. 

See me to my room, my daughter,” she said, 
^^and then return and entertain our guest. In 
the meantime, my Lord, if you smoke, you will 
find whatever you may want, from a Turkish 
pipe to a fine Havana, in the smoking room back 
of the library.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS 


57 


Many thanks,” the young man said, bowiiig 
deeply. I do sometimes indulge in the soothing 
weed, and will avail myself of your kindness, 
until Miss Hammond’s return. Then, if she has 
no objection, we will take a stroll in the moon- 
light, over this lovely demesne.” 

When Mrs. Hammond reached her apartments, 
she sank down in her chair, and a deathly pale- 
ness overspread her face. Nora hastened to 
her side, and asked, while a keen sharp pain of 
anguish pierced her young heart : 

Oh, mamma, mamma ! are you ill ? Speak to 
me at once.” 

Then she bathed her mother’s face and tem- 
ples with rose water, and chafed the thin white 
hands with her own soft rosy palms. 

There! do not be frightened; I am better 
now,” said the mother. ^^It was only a sharp 
and sudden pain at my heart, brought on I 
believe by the bare thought that you might 
refuse this young Earl of Montford.” 

^‘What do you know of this man, mamma, 
upon whom you wish to force me as an unwilling 
bride?” 


58 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


I know that he is a nohleman, of high rank, 
Nora. Do not agitate me with your childish 
questions.’’ Then pressing her hand again over 
her heart, she leaned back in the chair, as if 
suffering intense pain. 

Nora walked the length of the floor several 
times, finally coming to her mother’s side and 
falling upon her knees, hid her face in her lap, 
and oh, what an effort she made to speak calmly 
as she faintly asked: 

Mamma, is your heart really so set upon this 
union ? ” 

Mrs. Hammond saw this was her moment for 
triumph, and she hastily answered: ^^It is, my 
daughter. If you disappoint me, you will deal 
me my death blow.” And her right hand fell 
softly upon the little dark head resting upon her 
lap. 

Nora quickly rose to her feet, and was she not 
a little heroine as she calmly said: ^^Then, 
mamma, rather than cause one pain to come to 
your poor frail body, I will yield to your wishes ; 
that is, if Lord Montford asks me to be his wife, 
though my heart may break in so doing.” 


UNDEE THE WILLOWS. 


59 


Would this mother ever realize what it cost 
her child to say these words.? As she looked 
into Nora’s face she said: Hearts do not break 

so easily in real life. It is only in novels that 
such terrible things occur ; and I sincerely thank 
you for giving me so little trouble, and am glad 
that you are a girl of such good sense as to see 
the very enviable position you will gain by this 
marriage. I feel that I am growing weaker and 
weaker each day, and it will not be long e’er I 
sleep by your father’s side.” 

With a low wail of anguish, Nora kissed her 
mother’s lips, and left her room. Her face was 
deathly pale then, but by the time she reached 
the drawing-room and met Lord Montford, it was 
crimson to the temples. A faint odor of the rich 
flavored Havana still lingered about the young 
man, and it reminded Nora so forcibly of Dr. 
Moreland that, for a moment, every thing grew 
dark before her vision ; but, summoning some of 
her mother’s strong will to her aid she soon 
shook off this feeling, and was glad when his 
lordship offered her his arm for a stroll, out in 


60 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


the moonlight. The fresh night air had a revi- 
ving effect upon her senses; but at the same 
time all nature seemed to mock at her woe. The 
great silver moon in the ethereal vaults of blue, 
and the lambent glow of the millions of stars, 
seemed to mock her. Poor heartsick child ! she 
wondered if other eyes were watching such an 
enchanting scene. Why dwell upon this night? 
It is enough to say, that Lord Montford asked 
Nora Hammond to be his wife, and named the 
fifteenth of June for the marriage to take place, 
as business made it necessary for him to return 
to England. There, in the moonlight, under the 
willows, not far from where she and Hugh had 
stood the night before, Nora, true woman that 
she was, told her suitor of her affection for 
another, but promised that she would be his 
wife. Lord Montford laughed a low musical 
laugh, making no other reply to her confidence. 

Nora noticed one thing; her suitor never 
spoke of love. She felt pleased that he did not, 
for if he loved her, she had no love to give him 
in return. After an hour spent under a moon- 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


61 


lit, southern sky, they returned to the house. 
Shortly after, Nora sought her mother’s room. 
Mrs. Hammond had not yet retired, but Nancy 
had robed that delicate form in its snowy night 
robe. 

She sat at her old accustomed place at the 
open south window. The moonbeams played in, 
full upon her face. She had given orders that 
no lights should be brought in ; and when Nora 
entered and knelt at her side, she did not see 
that deathlike look upon her face, or the wild 
and unnatural look that gleamed from her eyes, 
as she said in a voice wholly strange and unnat- 
ural : Mamma, the fifteenth of next month I 

shall be Countess of Montford. God help me ! ” 

At this she fainted at her mother’s feet. Mrs. 
Hammond rang for Nancy, who carried the help- 
less girl to her room. That night the mother 
retired greatly pleased at her poor child’s decision. 


62 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


CHAPTER VI. 

THE BRIDAL MORN. 

“From the home of childhood’s glee, 

From the days of laughter free, 

From the love of many years, 

Thou art gone to cares and fears ; 

To another path and guide, 

To a bosom yet untried ! ” — Hemans. 

“ Ah ; sad and strange as in dark summer dawns 
The earliest pipe of half awakened birds 
To dying ears, when unto dying eyes 
The casement slowly grows a glimmering square ; 

So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.” 

— Tennyson. 


T he early rays of a June morning penetrated 
into Nora’s room. Ere the sun had reached 
its meridian, her mother’s ambition would be grat- 
ified — Nora would be Countess of Montford, and 
on her way to New York to embark for old 
England; for this gloriously beautiful morning 
ushered in the fifteenth. In Nora’s dressing 
room adjoining her sleeping apartment lay the 
soft white satin bridal dress, and rare point lace 
over-dress, with veil to match, and the snowy 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


63 


wreath of orange blossoms, and great sparkling 
diamonds that glittered in their velvet cases, 
which a crowned head might envy. At seven 
o’clock, Nancy came softly into the room, bear- 
ing in her hand a small silver tray, upon which 
was a cup of strong black cofee. 

Here, Miss Nora ; drink this : it will strength- 
en your nerves. At eight o’clock I will come in 
to robe you for your marriage.” 

Would it were for the grave you were to 
robe me, mammy Nance ; for, from this morning, 
life to me will be a living death, and I realize it 
even now, that it will be more bitter than the 
grave.” 

Do not talk so, my darling. You will break 
my old heart,” said the woman, trying hard to 
suppress her tears. Then, as if wishing to change 
the subject, for fear any emotion would grieve 
her young mistress’ heart all the more deeply, 
she said, I have a piece of news for you. Miss 
Lulu Moreland has arrived from Koine, and is the 
guest of Major Winston. You know she could 
not go to Holly Cottage and remain there alone.” 
4 


64 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Thank God, she did not come to Beechland'^, 
for under the circumstances, I could not bear to 
look upon her sweet face, much as we have loved 
each other in bye-gone days. For, oh heavens ! 
she is Hugh's sister, and the sight of her would 
drive me mad." 

There, my darling, you should not talk so ; 
it is wrong, it is positively wicked, when the 
morning has dawned that hails your marriage 
day." 

Without another word Nora took the coffee 
and drank it eagerly: praying that it would 
prove a panacea to her aching heart ; then 
thanking her old nurse for her forethought and 
kindness, she rested her head upon the pillow 
again, and turned her face to the wall. Nancy's 
heart was too full for further speech ; and going 
out of the room, she closed the door softly behind 
her ; as she did so she heaved a sigh wrung from 
an agonized heart, as she thought that after this 
morning it might be many, many years, ere she 
might again look upon the beautiful face of her 
nursling. 


UNDEE THE WILLOWS. 


65 


Shortly after the faithful creature had left her, 
Nora arose, threw on her dressing gown, and 
went to her mother’s room to press upon her lips 
the morning kiss, as was her wont. Mrs. Ham- 
mond was still in bed, and greeted her daughter 
with a very stately and formal kiss. Poor young 
Nora sank down upon her knees, and burying 
her face in her mother’s pillows, sobbed forth. 
Oh mamma, mamma ! why are you so cold and 
formal with me this morning, when my poor 
heart so craves a mother’s warm love and sym 
pathy, and when I am on the eve of leaving you 
perhaps forever ? ” 

There ! ” said the ambitious mother, do not 
excite me. I am not cold and indifferent to you, 
love ; but in a few hours more you will be 
Countess of Montford. You will be allied to one 
of the oldest and proudest families in England, 
and I, your happy mother, am but treating you 
with the proper dignity and respect that should 
be given to one in your exalted position.” 

As Nora listened to her mother’s words a great 
change came over her. She arose from that 


66 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


bedside a different being from the Nora of other 
days. All that sweet, girlish, confiding look had 
vanished from her young face ; a cold, haughty 
look settled around the beautiful mouth, that was 
wont to smile so sweetly, a hard look stole into 
the soft black eyes, there was a cold metallic 
ring in her voice. It seemed as if the Nora of 
other days was dead, as she said, — 

‘^It is well, perhaps, mamma, that you have 
this morning reminded me of the very brilliant 
station I am to fill in life ; and for the future I 
will try to bear it in mind. It is now’ drawing 
near on to eight o’clock, and I must return to my 
room.” 

Very well, my dear. I will soon join you to 
assist Nancy in arranging your toilet.” 

It is needless to say that Nora was beautiful, 
as she stood in her room arrayed for her bridal. 
But the young heart that beat beneath the satin 
boddice was as cold and indifferent to her beauty 
or the occasion, as the cold glittering jewels that 
adorned her person. When the finishing touch 
had been given, and each effect had been studied, 
the mother exclaimed. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


67 


Nora, my daughter ! I could almost fall down 
and worship you, you are so royally, so grandly 
beautiful.” 

The tones were very harsh and cold that 
answered her: ^^You had better wait. Mamma, 
until I have gained my title. Then you would 
have something to worship.” 

Strange, most strange to say, this mother, 
whose will was so strong in some things, and so 
very weak in others, was highly pleased with her 
daughter’s answer, and thought it much more 
becoming than tears would have been. 

At half past nine o’clock. Lord Montford 
arrived from Richmond, with the Bishop. At 
ten, the marriage ceremony was read in the 
drawing-rooms, where a few of Mrs. Hammond’s 
select friends were present. 

How poor Nora lived through this trying 
ordeal, she never knew, for through it all her 
thoughts went back to other days. She was 
c.pparently unconscious of what was passing 
around her. Even when her mother, taking her 
in her arms, congratulating her, calling her by 


68 


UNDEE THE WILLOWS 


her title of nobility, she seemed not to hear her. 
Her eyes were dim with tears — the farewell 
tears shed over the yawning grave of her dead 
love. 

Little time was given Nora to dream of what 
might have been. Her bridal robes must be 
changed for a traveling suit of modest gray ; and 
while this was being done, Mrs. Hammond, her 
lawyer, and Lord Montford were in the library. 
The result was that one-third of Nora’s large 
fortune was placed at the young Earl’s disposal 
— amounting to the snug little sum of five hun- 
dred thousand dollars. Lord Montford gallantly 
lifted the beautiful hand of his mother-in-law to 
his lips, but did not say, as Hugh Moreland had 
once said to her, when kissing that hand : God 
forever bless you.” He said instead: 

Many thanks, my dear Madame, for the great 
confidence you have placed in me this day, in 
giving me the hand of your beautiful daughter 
and a large portion of her great fortune.” 

No thanks, my Lord,” said the mother with 
dignity ; all I require of you is to prove worthy 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


69 


of what I have committed to your care. My 
daughter, your young Countess, is very dear to 
me. Deal gently with her, and if I should live, 
bring her back to me next year.’' Then, for the 
first time, the mother’s fortitude gave way, and 
she bent her head and wept. 

In a short time, the carriage was announced, 
which was to convey the young couple to the 
city, where they would take the cars for New 
York. The first tears Nora remembered to have 
ever seen in her mother’s eyes, fell upon her 
cold, colorless cheeks, as that mother gave her 
parting kiss. Our young Virginia Countess could 
not trust her voice to say good bye, and lowering 
her veil, she entered the carriage and drove 
away from her childhood’s home, by the side of 
her newly-made husband, who looked upon her 
silent anguish with coldness and indifference. As 
the carriage rolled over the picturesque bridge 
that spanned the crystal stream which murmured 
through the grounds, the young Countess of 
Montford turned her head away, and her heart 
became as a piece of lead in her bosom. 


70 


UNDER THE WILLOWS 


CHAPTER YII, 


THE NEW HOME. 

“If I’m designed your lordling’s slave, — 

By Nature law designed,— 

Why was an independent wish 
E’en planted in my mind ? 

If not, why am I subject to 
His cruelty or scorn ? 

Or why has man the will and power 
To make his fellow mourn ?” — Robert Burns. 

“Ah, might I but escape to some sweet spot. 

Oasis of my hopes, to fancy dear. 

Where rural virtues are not yet forgot. 

And good old customs crown the circling year.” 


— Martin F. Tupper. 


"^AR away in the north of England, stood an 



old and dilapidated castle. Two hundred 
}^ears ago it was a noble structure, but had since 
fallen into decay, and at the time of which we 
write only a portion of this old pile was habitable. 
All the glory and grandeur had departed from 
Castle Clyde years ago, when the grandfather of 
the present Earl of Montford gambled away a 
liandsome fortune, and left his family greatly 
impoverished, with little more than an empty 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


71 


title, these old walls and towers, and a large 
amount of debt. 

To this bleak and dreary place Lord Montford 
brought the young Virginia heiress, his bride, and 
introduced her to his mother, an elderly woman, 
with a cold, hard, haughty face. Instinctively 
young Nora shrank from her. The Dowager 
Countess saw this shrinking look, and from that 
moment felt that she would still be the ruling 
power, or, at least, contend to maintain her 
former position. She could not endure the 
thought of abdicating her position to a mere 
chit of a girl, as she considered her son’s wife 
to be. 

So, when she summoned a servant to show 
her daughter-in-law to her apartments, she said, 

Barbara, show Lady Montford to her rooms. 
She vdll wish to dress for dinner, as I am very 
particular on the point of dress.” 

Nora understood her position at once, and her 
southern eyes emitted gleams of scorn, as she 
turned to her mother-in-law, and haughtily said. 

Madam : I am Countess of Montford, and in the 


72 UNDEKTHEWILLOWB. 

future you will please to remember this in giving 
your instructions to the servants or in addressing 
me. And I greatly dislike anything like famil- 
iarity.’’ 

There was something so cold and haughty in 
this speech, something so wholly unexpected, 
that it made her husband’s mother turn fairly 
white with rage. 

Surely Mrs. Hammond in Virginia, could she 
have seen her daughter at this moment, would 
have felt her highest hopes realized, as far as her 
daughter regarded her position, as the wife of a 
nobleman. Nora had a will of iron to deal with 
in that of her husband’s mother, who never gave 
in, as she said, Barbara, show Lady Montford 
to her rooms. You Erlwin, must remain belov.^, 
as I have a few words to say to you.” And Lord 
.Montford dared not disobey his mother. 

Thus, on this, the first day of her arrival at her 
husband’s home, our little Virginia Countess met 
with an almost insurmountable obstacle to the 
independence, at least, that she had expected to 
enjoy, if not happiness. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


73 


For no odds, how dark the cloud to the young, 
there is always a silver lining, if we will but 
pause long enough to find it. 

To say that our little American girl did not 
derive just the faintest tinge of pleasure from 
her title of Countess, would be doing injustice to 
human nature. Alas ! poor child. Even though 
it was an empty pleasure, it was all she had, and 
some pleasure is better than none. 

When she reached her apartments, she sank 
down into the depths of an old-fashioned chair, 
and is it any wonder that her thoughts flew back 
over the waters to her old home ? How vividly 
it loomed up before her now. The massive old 
mansion in perfect order and repair, some half a 
mile from the James River, with its beautiful, 
dark evergreens, its sparkling fountains, and its 
many bright -hued flowers; the narrow crystal / 
stream that half encircled the grounds, bordered 
on either side by graceful trees — and these, what 
did they not recall as she sat wearily looking into 
the fire ; for although it was July, a fire was very 
pleasant in that latitude. There was too much of 


74 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


the American fire and vim in her veins to allow 
her to sit and brood over her misfortunes for any 
length of time ; and, wiping her tears away, she 
s\ibmitted herself to the hands of her maid, a 
negress as black as night, whom she had brought 
from her old home. 

Cornelia, as this is to be my first dinner 
in my own castle, robe me in my very best. 
Leave nothing in my dress that can call forth a 
remark from the Dowager Countess, for I feel 
that she is my enemy, but I will triumph over 
my enemies. I am ^ Countess of Montfordj and 
Cornelia, remember to address me always as such 
in the presence of Lord Montford and his mother.” 

Yes, ’deed I will, dear Miss Nora. If you is a 
Lordess, I’ll call you so, chile, an’ of course you 
is, if you hab married a Lord you is a Lordess, or 
if he is a Yearl you is a Yearlin’,” said Cornelia, 
with a most beaming look at the beautiful young 
creature, who threw back her dark head, and a 
peal of laughter rang through old Castle Clyde, 
that caused even Lord Montford’ s cold, proud 
mother to pause and listen ; there was something 
so pure and unaffected in that mu^iical voice. 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 75 

The thin lips of the dowager were pressed 
firmly together, as she listened. Turning to her 
son she said : Shocking, most shocking ! Erl- 
win, where else under the sun but in America 
could you have found so boisterous a creature ? 
Of course, her large fortune will cover many 
faults, and reclaim all the last glcries of our race. 
I think you told me just now you had only 
received one- third of her vast fortune. That 
sum will be sufficient for the present to rebuild 
and refurnish Castle Clyde in its ancient splen- 
dor, and altogether your visit to America has 
been a profitable one. Although Lady Montford 
may lack culture, she is extremely young and 
not bad looking. But Erlwin, my son, my only 
child, with your young wife under this roof, you 
must still remember that I am Countess of Mont- 
ford, and that I will give up my position to n: 
one.’' 

The young Earl gave a low, careless laug^' 
in which there was no sound of music, as he 
said, Mother, I know you of old, and shall 
leave this matter for you and her to settle 


76 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


between yourselves ; for I shall leave Castle Clyde 
to-morrow morning for London.’^ 

What ! So soon ? said the dowager. “ Does 
Lady Montford accompany you ? ” 

^^No, mother. For what do I want to be 
bothered with her? She is young and very 
beautiful, as you know; but she is not just 
exactly to my liking. I never could see much 
to grow sentimental over in those dark, tropical 
beauties ; I must admire the fair portion of God’s 
creation. Give me the soft eye of melting blue, 
and the golden tress.” For a moment a shadow 
gathered over the face of Lord Montford. 

An hour later, when the young Countess swept 
into the drawing-room, richly attired in black 
silk velvet, rich lace and rubies, that an Eastern 
queen might have envied, that shadow still rested 
upon his brow. He was unconscious of his young 
wife’s entrance, until she gently asked: 

Why did you not come and escort me to the 
drawing-room, my Lord?” At the tones of her 
voice, he rallied sufficiently to say: ‘‘I beg ten 
thousand pardons, my dear, but I did not expect 
you down until dinner was announced.” 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


77 


A haughty, burning blush mantled Nora's 
face, as she said : I am certainly mistress of my 
husband’s home, and such being the case, can 
with propriety, come down to the drawing-room, 
whenever I see proper to do so.” 

The dark, flashing eyes shot a glance at the 
dowager countess that seemed to say : Madame, 
It is war between us. I will be mistress of my 
house, I have paid dearly for my title, and must 
have it.” 

Her mother-in-law coldly said: ^^Lady Mont- 
ford, you would have shown much better taste 
if you had remained in your apartments until 
you were summoned hither.” 

Nora did not deign to reply, but walked to the 
window and looked out. The full moon was 
flooding the earth with its mellow rays, and near 
the window, amid the branches of a wide spread- 
ing yew tree, was heard the voice of a sweet 
nightingale, pouring out its soul - thrilling notes 
in song, and again her thoughts reverted to her 
old home, and to her mother; and her thoughts 
were of another still, and an intense longing 


came over this beautiful, most unhappy young 
lady — a yearning to sleep the long, long sleep 
beneath the willows of her childhood’s home. 

Alas, alas! We, poor discouraged creatures, 
make those rash wishes, but how we shrink when 
stern reality stares us in the face! Like the 
suicide, when he plans and contemplates his 
death, and finally gives the fatal leap over some 
precipice, he at last cries out: ^^Save me, save 
me!” But his cries are in vain; he is beyond 
the aid of man. He wished for such an end, he 
dreamed over it, and when it is too late he sees 
his own folly, and calls on man to aid him. If 
he had trusted more implicitly in God, no such 
destructive thoughts would have found a place in 
his heart. 


4 ^ 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


79 


CHAPTER Ym. 


THE RUBY RING. 


“ How widow-like she sits in sadness here ; 


Lost are the glowing tints, the softening shades, 
Her sunny meadows, and her greenwood glades ; 
No grateful flow’r hath gemmed its mother earth. 
Rejoicing in the blessedness of birth.” 


— Marxist F. Tupper. 


“ On this jewel my heart will ever dwell.” 


— Lord John Russell. 


^HERE had just died away the sound of the 



JL carriage wheels which conveyed the young 
Earl and his fair Countess to Richmond, after 
their marriage, when Nancy entered the library 
where her mistress was still lying upon a low 
couch, with her dark face hid in its pillows. 
Nancy gently said : My dear mistress. Miss 

Lulu Moreland has called. Will you see her?” 

At this, Mrs. Hammond lifted her face and 
Nancy saw that it was wet with tears, and for a 
moment she too broke down. At sight of her 
servant’s tears, Mrs. Hammond controlled herself 
with a great effort, and presently said: 


j 


80 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Certainly, Nancy. Conduct Miss Moreland 
to this room.” 

By the time this was done, Mrs. Hammond’s 
face was as calm and serene as if no great agony 
was gnawing at her heart, for this mother never 
fully realized how very dear her only child was 
to her until now that she was gone beyond 
recall, and she was glad that Lulu Moreland had 
come to somewhat divert her mind from her own 
beautiful daughter. At Lulu’s entrance into the 
library, she started back with surprise and aston- 
ishment, at the great change that had come over 
this girl in little less than one year. 

Lulu saw this Ipok, and without even a word 
sank down into the nearest chair and drew her 
black silk mantle around her form, while a faint 
blush dyed her cheeks. 

Lulu Moreland had seen only seventeen sum- 
mers, but was tall and well proportioned for her 
years, with a fair sweet face, framed in by soft 
golden-bronze hair, which curled and waved over 
a brow as fair and smooth as ivory; large, clear, 
hungry, blue eyes, arched by brows somewhat 
darker than her hair, with lashes of tlie s«Tme hue. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


81 


How pleading was the expression of those eyes, 
when they were at length lifted to Mrs. Ham- 
mond’s face, and she said, Cousin Helen, have 
you no welcome for me ? ” 

At this Mrs. Hammond arose, and going up to 
the young girl took one fair hand in hers, and 
looking searchingly into her face, asked. 

Lulu, are you a wife ? ” 

At this question all the color receded from that 
fair, sweet face, and a strange light appeared in 
the blue eyes, and the young voice was low and 
sad as the strains of an jEolian harp, which 
answered her, ^^No, cousin Helen, I am not a 
wife. See ! I wear no wedding ring. I once 
did, but that, like my good name, has gone from 
me ; and believe me, cousin Helen, when I tell 
you I never meant to do wrong. On landing in 
Kichmond, I heard of my brother’s absence in 
California, and now have come to you for advice 
and sympathy. First hear my justification, then 
you may judge me.” 

Mrs. Hammond drew coldly back, as she said. 
Miss Moreland, I wish to hear no explanations. 


82 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


I promised your brother, before he went away, 
to provide, during his absence, for your welfare, 
as if you were my daughter ; and I will faithfully 
keep that promise. Now, if you were a daughter 
of my own, and had brought shame upon me, I 
would supply you with sufficient means, and tell 
you to leave the home you had for ever disgraced, 
and never let me look upon your erring face 
again. I am truly glad. Miss Moreland, that my 
daughter is happily married and gone from this 
country ere this disgraceful story should reach 
her ears.” 

A cold shiver passed over Lulu’s frame, as 
she said, — ^^Oh! cousin Helen, for the blessed 
Redeemer’s sake, spare me. Listen to me, while 
I tell you my story.” 

^^As I told you before. Miss Moreland, I will 
listen to no story you may wish to tell ; and the 
sooner we bring this interview to a close the 
better. I am truly sorry, on your brother’s 
account, and the very distant relationship you 
bear to my dead husband, and to my daughter, 
the Countess of Montford.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


83 


With a low, sad cry, Lulu buried her face in 
her hands, and her young form quivered with the 
keenest agony. 

After some time Mrs. Hammond said, ^^Miss 
Moreland, my advice to you is this : return to 
Europe at once, before your brother s return. If 
he should learn the truth, it would sorely grieve 
him. You say you are no wife, and wear no 
wedding ring. What would his feelings be on 
beholding you ? Now for his sake, hide yourself 
and name for ever from him. I will supply you 
with means to live, where no one need ever 
know of your shame ; and in doing this I will be 
but doing my duty, and will have redeemed my 
pledge made to Hugh Moreland.” 

As this assertion left her lips, Mrs. Hammond 
shrank within herself, for the small voice of 
conscience deep down in her heart whispered to 
her the great wrong she had done to Hugh, and 
to her own child. 

Finally, after remembering Mrs. Hammond’s 
cold, proud nature. Lulu lifted her young head, 
and in a' broken voice said, Yes, Mrs. Hammond, 


84 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


you are right, for my noble brother Hugh’s sake 
I should hide my wrongs from the eyes of the 
world/’ — and with aweary sigh she arose. As 
she did so, she saw something glittering in the 
sunlight upon the carpet. With wild, dilated 
eyes and a low, hoarse cry, she darted forward 
and picked it up. It was a ruby ring, of antique 
setting, and highly valuable. As she stooped 
and picked it up, Mrs. Hammond perceived the 
change that quickly appeared upon the young 
face, and in some surprise, asked, 

^^What have you there. Miss Moreland, to 
excite you so ?” 

Oh, cousin Helen, cousin Helen ! God be 
praised; I have found my wedding ring. But 
how came it here, in the library at Beechlands, 
when it was taken from my finger six months 
ago in the city of Borne ? ” 

The young creature sank into her chair again, 
overcome for the time being with her great sur- 
prise and joy. 

Mrs. Hammond went to her side, and taking 
the ring from her finger, examined it closely. 


U N D E K THE WILLOWS. 


85 


There was no inscription inside : nothing to mark 
it, save its antique setting, of very fine rubies in 
the form of a cross. Mrs. Hammond had never 
seen a ring like it before, and wondered how it 
came to be in her house. Then coldly handing it 
back to Lulu, she said, This ring proves nothing, 
Miss Moreland. Now, if you please, we will bring 
this interview to a close. I will give into your 
hands the sum of two thousand dollars, and with 
this sum, go hide your shame.” 

At this the young girl arose, and a flash of 
scorn shot from her blue eyes, as she said, Mrs. 
Hammond, you too are a mother, and the only 
revenge I could ask is, that this great injustice 
may come home to you. Henceforth do not 
annoy yourself as to my future. I would scorn 
to accept anything at the hands of a person with 
a heart so hard : and as you will listen to no 
explanations in my behalf, I bid you good morn- 
ing, Madame.” 

With cheeks pale as death, and limbs trembling 
under her, the young girl again drew her mantle 
around her form, turned coldly away from the 


86 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


proud mistress of Beechlands, and went out of 
the old house, and down the graveled walk. She 
paused for a moment on the margin of the 
stream, and gazed into the limpid waters. As 
she did so a yearning desire came into her 
heart to sleep in the bosom of some crystal 
stream. She finally left the picturesque bridge, 
and hurried on. At length she found herself by 
the river. Seating herself upon a rock, she 
reviewed her situation ; then again her thoughts 
reverted to the water, and the temptation finally 
become so strong within her that she could not 
resist it; and with a prayer from an agonized 
heart, she committed herself to the mercies of 
the waters of the James. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


8T 


CHAPTER IX. 

VANISHED HOPES. 

How fleet is a glance of the mind ! 

Compared with the speed of its flight, 

The tempest itself lags behind, 

And the swift-winged arrows of light. 

When I think of my own native land. 

In a moment I seem to be there ; 

But, alas ! recollection at hand 
Soon hurries me back to despair. 

— William Cowper. 

Though the mills of God grind slowly. 

Yet they grind exceeding small ; 

Though with patience He stands waiting, 

With exactness grinds He all. 

— Henry W. Longfellow. 

D uring the latter part of August, Hugh 
Moreland returned from the Pacific coast, 
but was a changed being, a dijfferent man from 
what he was on that May morning, when he 
repaired to Beechlands to receive his instructions 
from its stately little mistress, as to his move- 
ments in San Francisco. Then he was in the 
morning of hope and joyous anticipations. For 
as already stated, no suspicion of foul play had 


88 


UNDEE THE WILLOWS. 


entered his mind on the day of his departure. 
He did not return to Kichmond; nor even go 
south of New York, for, in San Francisco, ere his 
return, a Kichmond newspaper had fallen into his 
hands, and from its columns he learned that his 
love had gone from him forever'' Therefore, 
under the painful circumstances, he could not 
return to a scene so fraught with memories of his 
love-dream, and where everything would remind 
him so forcibly of the past. 

Resigning himseK with a sublime heroism to 
the inevitable hand of fate, he wrote the follow- 
ing letter to Mrs. Hammond : 

“New York, Aug. 28, 18—. 

Madam: — As you will see by the papers I 
enclose, I have transacted your very urgent husi- 
ness " faithfully and successfully, and my under- 
taking has brought to you the acme of your 
ambition. 

have seen by the Examiner of June 16 th, 
which happened to fall into my hands, that you 
have wedded your daughter to a title." Madam, 
I will be more generous in regard to the feelings 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


89 


of others, than you, a mother, have been ; and in 
the deepest pity for your frail delicacy f I will 
refrain from expressing anything further, only 
hoping that you may live to know and experience 
some of the bitterness that now rends my soul 
and that of your daughter. For I have faith to 
believe that Nora, my souks love, will ever remain 
true, until the grave closes over her. After that 
she will be mine indeed, in spite of all your well- 
laid plans to keep us asunder ; and even now my 
heart tells me what she is suffering, from a frivo- 
lous mother’s ambition. 

But ^ the mills of God grind slowly,’ and you 
will reap your reward. 

^^Hugh Moreland.” 

The day after Moreland penned this letter to 
Mrs. Hammond he set sail for the Old World. 
He had telegraphed Mrs. Hammond on the day 
he had penned to her his letter, if his sister Lulu 
had returned to Virginia, to answer to that effect, 
if not no reply was expected. So, of course, at 
the time of leaving New York he thought his 


90 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


sister still in Eome. After landing in France lie 
lost no time in setting out for Kome. In this 
ancient city he anticipated the pleasure of meet- 
ing his sisfer Lulu. Here another great disap- 
pointment awaited him. He learned from the 
clergyman’s family, with whom Lulu had gone to 
Rome, that she had suddenly disappeared from 
their care, deserting the art she loved so well, 
and leaving no trace as to her movements, or as 
to her whereabouts. 

Feeling as if he was to be disappointed, and 
robbed of every pleasure on every side, Hugh 
Moreland left Rome, and sought a new field of 
action. He went to Paris, the central point of 
the world’s science. Thinking that there might 
be a faint chance that his sister might have 
returned to Virginia, while he was making his 
voyage, he wrote many letters to her there, but 
as the days, weeks, and months passed by, he 
received none in return, and it was years before 
he obtained a clue to her fate. 

During all this time he was storing his mind 
with the grand mysterious science of his profes- 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


91 


sion. In the not very distant future of advancing 
years, the name of Doctor Moreland would stand 
forth as one of the greatest and most skillful 
physicians of his age. But oh ! where, mean- 
time, was the gentle sister he loved so well? 
Oh ! the agony that would have rent his soul 
could he have known lohat her fate was, as she 
arose from the rock by the river side upon the 
day of Nora's marriage. 

How often we fancy, as we ponder over this 
mysterious faculty called thought, what a very 
great blessing it is we cannot know certain things 
and certain events that are transpiring even with 
those we love. How many mountains we would 
make from mere mole hills, mountains so steep 
and rugged that the bravest heart would perish 
on the wayside ere reaching its summit. With 
what sublime rapture do we read from the 
sacred book" the many miracles performed by 
the blessed Son of Man, while He dwelt upon 
the earth. How grand, how beautiful and sub- 
lime were His holy creations. For instance. He 
healed the sick ; restored the blind ) made the 


92 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


lame to walk; cleansed the leper; made the 
withered hand whole ; turned the water into 
wine, at the marriage feast ; yea ! even raised 
the dead. But with all this grand, sublime, and 
holy power, in His exceeding kindness to us 
mortals of earth He has hid certain things from 
our visions, and tempers our hearts to meet the 
bitter lessons that follow in the footsteps of time. 
Oh! thou Blessed One, we bow the knee, and 
thank Thee for Thy holy wisdom, in hiding these 
things from us. — So, not knowing what had 
happened in Virginia, Doctor Moreland toiled on. 




TTNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


93 


CHAPTER X. 

“THE WAIF.” 


“Who is this ? and what is here ? 

And in the lighted palace near 
Died the sound of royal cheer; 

And they cross’d themselves for fear, 

All the knights at Camel ot: 

But Lancelot mused a little space; 

He said, She has a lovely face; 

God in his mercy lend her grace; 

The Lady of Shallot.” — Tennyson. 


H ave you ever stood upon the banks of the 
James river, and watched the many beauti- 
ful changes reflected from the sun’s rays upon its 
bosom ? If so, you can in a measure understand 
us when we try with our feeble pen to describe 
its rare loveliness. How very beautiful was the 
scene upon that June day, when little Nora Ham- 
mond, the greatest heiress in the Old Dominion, 
had married a title, and had started across the 
waters for her new home ; and poor unfortunate 
Lulu Moreland had thrown her young life upon 
the mercies pf this stream. 


94 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


The day was intensely warm for the season, 
the southern sun shone down with more power 
than it does a few weeks later in the season, 
when there is generally more of a breeze to 
temper the sun’s rays. Not a bough or leaf 
moved in answer to any gentle breeze, for there 
was none stirring. Not a wave or riplet dis- 
turbed the waters of the James, as it flowed 
peacefully ever onward. It seemed as though 
they had hushed their prattling voices to listen to 
entrancing notes of the birds in the wild woods, 
and to inhale the fragrance of thousands and 
thousands of bright-hued flowers. 

I say, Hal, it is useless for us to waste any 
more time fishing here, let us row a little further 
up stream and try our luck there, and if we 
are not more successful than we have hitherto 
been, we will row back to the city.” 

The speaker was one of two young men who 
had left the city very early in the morning to try 
their luck at angling. His name was Beverly 
Peyton, and his companion was Henry Matthews, 
or happy Hal ” as he was more familiarly called 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


95 


by his many friends. His friends were numerous 
indeed, he being a young man of wealth. 

Hal Matthews was a prepossessing young man 
of five and twenty. Beverly Peyton was a year 
younger and not above the ordinary stature of 
men ; but he was a true type of the southerner, 
dark almost to swarthiness. He possessed a noble 
brow, shaded by soft clinging curls of jet black 
hair, and dark brows arched over a pair of keen, 
sparkling, intelligent, dark-gray eyes, while the 
voice addressing his companion, was deep, rich 
and soft as a woman^s. This young man was also 
a favored son of fortune without any near kindred 
ties ; his parents died when he was quite young, 
and when he reached his majority he became the 
possessor of a handsome fortune. 

These two young men had been college friends 
together at Harvard, at which institution of learn- 
ing they had graduated with honors three years 
before we introduce them to our readers. 

They bore their fresh green laurels to the old 
world to receive fresher ones there. So now we 
find them again in their native land after having 
6 


96 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


spent nearly three years abroad. They had 
reached Richmond, only ten days before we find 
them upon the river; and neither had as yet 
decided just exactly what course to pursue in 
life. For, unlike most young men of wealth and 
leisure they felt that it was their duty to adopt 
some profession, and faithfully and diligently 
follow it until they should each stand up on the 
topmost round of the ladder of fame. 

I think you are right, Peyton,” said Hal at 
length, leisurely folding up his fishing rod and 
laying it in the bottom of the boat. If we are 
not more successful up at that point of rocks 
where the water is so deep, we might just as well 
return to the city.” 

So to the point of rocks they rowed ; but they 
cast, not their lines into the water, for just as 
they reached the desired spot, they saw a pale 
sweet face, with streaming golden bronze hair 
sink from view. Young Peyton was the quickest 
in action of the two, and in less time than it 
takes to relate it, he removed his light coat 
and leaped into the v^ater. In a few seconds he 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


97 


reappeared, with the limp form pressed to his 
side, while he kept himself and the rescued girl 
up with his right arm, until his friend could row 
to their rescue. 

When Beverly Peyton laid the insensible form 
in the bottom of the boat, he looked up into the 
face of his friend with bright sparkling eyes, and 
said : 

I have at last arrived at a decision as to what 
my future course shall be in life. I shall carry 
with me pills and camphor. ’’ 

^^And I,’' said young Matthews, solemnly, as 
he gazed upon the young form at their feet, 
^^will carry a prayer-book. But Beverly, or 
rather Doctor Peyton, you should look to your 
patient. I do not think she can be dead. Where 
is the brandy your forethought suggested to 
bring with you this morning 

These words broke the chain of thought that 
held young Peyton, whose eyes were resting 
upon the beautiful face before him. Who was 
she ? Whence came she ? Why was she in the 
river ? He felt that he Tuust act. From the 


98 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


lunch basket he brought out a small flask of 
brandy, and, pouring some into a cup, lifted the 
beautiful golden head and forced a small quantity 
between the blue clinched lips. He bathed the 
face and hands with the spirits and in a few 
moments was rewarded with success ; the waxen 
eyelids trembled, the blue lips parted, and a faint 
weary sigh came from his patient. 

Well done, my noble Doctor,” said his friend 
with an animated smile. There is nothing in 
all the world like a young M. D. being successful 
with his first patient.” 

Many thanks for your encouraging remarks, 
my Keverend friend,” said young Peyton, while 
a faint flush mantled his brow. May we each 
be as successful in after life. One ministering to 
the sufferings of the body, and the other looking 
after the welfare and salvation of the soul. This, 
my friends, looks like a case where both are 
needed.” 

By this time the girl opened her blue eyes, and 
they rested full upon the face of Peyton, as she 
faintly asked : 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 99 

Where am I?” The young voice went to 
the heart of each of her listeners. 

You are with friends, my dear young lady,” 
answered Peyton. ^^Now tell us how we hap- 
pened to find you floating in the stream.” 

The voice quivered like a grieved child as she 
replied : I sought the river as my only friend.” 

Peyton shivered, and Hal Matthews said : It 

was an overruling Providence that sent us to 
this point.” Then looking upon the rescued 
girl he asked where she belonged, and what her 
name was. 

^^That I shall never tell you,” answered the 
wretched girl. The generous -hearted Peyton 
motioned to his friend to question her no further. 

When she appeared to be resting easy in the 
boat, the young men plyed the oars, pulling 
rapidly up the stream. By the time the city was 
reached the summer’s sun had sunk beneath the 
western horizon; the purple, crimson, and gold 
that flowed in its wake, too, was gone, and noth- 
ing but the dull-tinted gray remained. As soon 
as the little boat reached the shore, Hal Matthews 


secured the first carriage he could, and in a short 
time poor Lulu Moreland was safe inside the 
friendly walls of a hospital, where her comfort 
was well looked after by those loving sisters of 
mercy/’ 

Leaving her to their gentle care we will go to 
Castle Clyde, and look after our young Yirginian 
Countess. 


XT N D E K T H E WILLOWS. 


101 


CHAPTER XI. 


^^TIT FOK TAT.” 


“ Give me more love or more disdain ; 

The torrid or the frozen zone 
Brings equal ease unto my pain ; 

The temperate affords me none; 
Either extreme, of love or hate, 

Is sweeter than a calm estate. 

“ Give me a storm; if it be love, 

Like Danae in a golden shower, 

I swim in pleasure; if it prove 
Disdain, that torrent will devour 
My vulture hopes; and he’s possessed 
Of heaven that’s but from hell released; 
Then crown my joys, or cure my pain; 
Give me more love or more disdain.” 


— Thomas Carew. 



ORA’S first dinner in her own castle was 


anything but pleasant. Lord Montford 
was exceedingly dull and pre-occupied. Turn 
which way she would, Nora could feel that the 
lynx-like eyes of the dowager were bent upon 
her. Little was said during the meal by any one. 
After it was over, and they had arisen from the 
table, Nora turned with a haughty little gesture, 
and said. 


102 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Lord Montford, have the kindness to conduct 
me to my own private apartments.” 

My son will remain below with me, Lady 
Montford. You could easily find your way down 
without him, and you will most assuredly return 
without him also.” The old lady’s eyes flashed a 
look of keen contempt upon the young Virginian . 

“ That was my affair, madam ! ” said Nora, 
stamping her little foot, stung to the soul by the 
cold and cruel words : — And now let me tell 
you, once and for all, Dowager Countess of Mont- 
ford, that I permit no one to interfere with my 
affairs. I am the Countess of . Montford, and 
insist upon it, that it is the Earl’s duty to show 
me at least this much respect ; and I say he 
shall.^* With blazing eyes she turned and linked 
her arm within that of the Earl, and they left the 
dining-room together. 

If Nora had yielded to her mother’s wishes with 
apparently so much readiness, she yet possessed 
considerable determination, and Lord Montford 
laughed softly, in spite of himself, as he thought 
that at last his haughty mother had found her 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 103 

match. For himself, in the weakness of his 
manhood he had never been able to cope with 
the dowager’s strong will. 

When they reached Nora’s apartments, she 
signed for Cornelia, her attendant, to retire to 
the dressing-room. Then turning to the Earl she 
said, My Lord, please be seated for a while, as I 
wish to have a talk with you.” 

Reluctantly he felt himself compelled to obey 
her, for her beautiful eyes were looking up full 
into his own : and although he had admitted to 
his mother, a few hours before, that blue orbs 
were more to his liking, there was something in 
Nora’s black ones that made him quite submissive 
for the time being. After he was seated in an 
easy chair Nora extinguished all the wax candles ; 
so the room was left in semi-shadow, thrown out 
by the fire-light. When this was accomplished, 
she went to Lord Montford’s side, and, falling 
upon her knees, looked up into his face with her 
clear truthful eyes, saying as she did so, Lord 
Montford, are we two, who are now bound together 
as man and wife for ever, or until the grave closes 


104 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


over the one or the other, to be friends, or are 
we to be enemies ? I will not ask you to give me 
affection : but oh, for the love of Heaven do not 
be my enemy. You know I told you of that 
other one, before I became your wife ; and if you 
felt that you could never respect me, you should 
have left me then, and not married me, to bring 
me here a stranger in an alien land, to be sub- 
mitted to your mother s cruel persecutions. What 
I desire most to say to you is this : It rests with 
you, in a measure, to make me forget the past. 
By kindness, you can make my life pleasant and 
bearable. Time, they say, brings all things : and 
in time I may even hope to be happy. I knew, 
when I told you of that other one, and you 
accepted my hand with that knowledge, that you 
had no love for me, but that your motives were 
purely mercenary. You have never once admii>- 
ted that you loved me; and I sincerely thank 
you for not doing so. There is nothing in the 
world I so abhor as treacherous deceit. As I 
said before, we are bound together for life, and 
shall we not strive to see how pleasant we can 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


105 


make it for each other ? I want to do right, and 
will strive to the utmost to do my duty. My 
husband, will not you assist me ? ’’ 

She nestled her little hand in his. The Earl 
kept it in his own, and looked into her fair young 
face with feelings half of pity and half of scorn. 
He was not all bad, and finally the better feeling 
took possession of his heart, for it was impossible 
for any man with a heart in his bosom as large as 
a grain of mustard seed, to look into the eyes of 
the young Countess of Montford, and not feel a 
thrill of some pity at least at the yearning appeal 
they sent forth. 

After some moments given to reflection, the 
Earl kindly asked, ^^At what are you aiming. 
Lady Montford ? What do you wish me to do ? ” 
Nora was encouraged by the gentleness of his 
manner to ask, Am I Countess of Montford, or 
is your mother ? ” 

You, of course. Lady Montford, ” but an 
expression that Nora could not understand stole 
over his face. 

Thank you ! she said. I only wished to 


106 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


hear from your own lips what my position in this 
house is; and now that I know I am mistress 
here, I have a request to make of you.’’ 

A request? what is it?” 

^^It is this,” said Nora slowly and thoughtfully, 
^Hhat you will have your mother leave Castle 
Clyde and take up her abode at the Dower House, 
which belongs to her, where you can take care 
that all her wants are well provided for. I can 
see and understand that if we remain . beneath 
the same roof, there will be nothing but con- 
tention and discord. There is no congeniality 
between us. I have seen, from the first, that 
she dislikes me. Such being the case, I can 
not expect to find much enjoyment in dwelling 
beneath the same roof with her, and the arrange- 
ment I suggest, would be more pleasant for all 

fuf- 

concerned. What do you think of my plan?” 

Lord Montford dropped the little hand that had 
been nestling within his own, and an ominous 
cloud overspread his face as he answered coldly : 

Lady Montford, I can not turn my mother out 
of doors, even to please my wife, if I loved her 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


107 


ever so much.’’ He arose quickly, and com- 
menced to pace up and down the length of Nora’s 
room. At length, pausing near her, his hitherto 
dreamy violet eyes gleamed strangely in the 
smouldering fire light, as he harshly said. No ! 
Lady Montford, I can not comply with your 
request, for it is cruel and unnatural in the 
extreme.” 

This was an unlucky speech, proving to Nora 
that the Earl was against and not for her. Ari- 
sing to her feet she said, while her eyes flashed 
scorn. ^^Yery well, my Lord, use your own 
pleasure ; but I shall not remain at the Castle if 
the Dowager Countess continues in it. So you 
will have to take me to your town house. Of 
this I am determined. The same roof shall not 
shelter her and myself. It is ndt my desire, sir, 
to be contentious. I wish to live quietly and 
peaceably. Your mother is strong-willed and 
unbending, so am I ; and I also fear her ; she is 
cruel. So the safest plan is for us to be as far 
apart as possible.” 

The Earl was now leaning his head upon the 


108 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


mantelpiece, and as he deigned her no reply, 
Nora went up to him and laid her hand upon his 
arm, asking as she did so, ^^Are you listening to 
me. Lord Montford ? Do you understand me ? If 
your mother remains at Castle Clyde, I shall 
leave it.” 

He turned fiercely and shook her hand from 
his arm, as he answered. Yes, I hear you. 
Madam ; and let me tell you, now and from 
henceforth, I will listen to no more such silly, 
childish nonsense. I will not banish my mother 
from the castle, neither will I take you to town. 
So, Madam, you can make up your mind to 
remain just where you are, and also please to 
have the kindness in future to throw out no 
insinuations against my mother.” 

Then, with a disdainful bow he turned and left 
the room. 

Nora stood, white to the very lips, looking at 
the doorway through which he had passed. She 
knew her position perfectly. She was disliked by 
her mother-in-law, and had been scorned and 
insulted by the son. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


109 


As soon as she heard Lord Montford depart, 
Cornelia hastened to her young mistress, and 
seeing that awful look upon her face went to her 
side, and taking her icy fingers in her own warm 
palms, she said: 

For de lub oh hebben. Miss Nora, chase dat 
awful look from your face. ^ Deed, honey chile, 
you scares me wid it. Now if de Lords of dis 
yarth can make a poor sinner look like dat, what 
is to become of us here-arter.” 

Cornelia had a low, soft musical voice, a 
marked peculiarity in the African race, and the 
tones of her voice soon recalled Nora to herself. 
At a late hour of the night Cornelia got her 
young mistress in bed, and sitting down by her 
side, talked to her, soothingly, of home until the 
poor disdained child fell asleep ; then Cornelia 
sought her own couch in a little room back of the 
one occupied by her mistress, muttering as she 
did so. I thank my Vine master, I’s not mar- 
ried to a Lord; but shaw. Comely Hammond, 
you s a fool ; you 1 never marry anybody ; neider 
a Lord nor a debbil. Yes, dat am so; but lor 


110 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


what you talkin’ ’bout. Hush up your mouth 
nigger, an’ go to sleep.” 

Cornelia was very tired. Nearly all day long 
she had been unpacking trunks and boxes, and 
arranging her young mistress’ things ; and in 
two minutes after her head dropped upon her 
pillow she was sound asleep. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS 


111 


CHAPTER Xn, 


MRS. HAMMOND S VISIT 


“ But naught can charm the luckless Peri; 

Her soul is sad — her wings are weary — 

Joyless she sees the sun look down 
On that great Temple, once his own, 

Whose lonely columns stand sublime, 

Flinging their shadows from on high, 

Like dials, which the wizard. Time, 

Had raised to count his ages by ! ” — T. Moore. 

“ If thou could’st doctor, find her disease.’’ — Shakespeare. 



OW very strange it is that so many great and 


JLA. glorious results maybe wrought from appa- 
rently very small causes. Wilful little Mrs. Ham- 
mond, whose life for years had flowed on in one 
continuous monotonous tread after the death of 
Nora’s father, had never felt herself fully capable 
of rallying from this blow; although we believe 
we have stated elsewhere that the deeper, purer 
affections of her heart had never been stirred. 
Up to the time of her daughter’s marriage, she 
had never once been separated from that child 
twenty-four hours at a time. Nora had been 


7 


112 


UNDER T II E WILLOWS. 


educated at home under her own supervision 
Here she had the most competent governesses 
that could be secured, and the best of masters in 
music, painting and drawing. The young Count- 
ess therefore had but little knowledge of the 
world beyond what she had gathered from books 
and learned from the conversations of others. 
She had never been fifty miles from her birth- 
place, up to the time of her marriage. Twice a 
year she and her mother went to the city, and 
spent some weeks there for the purpose of hav- 
ing their wardrobes replenished ; and perhaps to 
indulge in an evening or two at the theatre or 
opera ; and once a year they visited each of their 
plantations, and spent several days among their 
people. 

This was the extent of Nora’s traveling up to 
the time of her marriage. During the eighteen 
years that Mrs. Hammond had been mistress of 
Beechlands, she had not once visited her early 
home in New Orleans ; shortly after her mar- 
riage her father died, and having no very near 
relatives there she had felt no very great yearn- 
ings desire to visit south. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


113 


Now that Nora was married, and gone from 
her, for the first time since leaving it, she felt a 
yearning desire to revisit the home of her child- 
hood. So Mrs. Hammond sent Jerry to the city, 
the morning after she had concluded to travel, 
for her old physician Doctor Mott. 

In the afternoon when he came out and found 
the reason she had summoned him, he rubbed his 
hands gleefully together, remarking as he did so, 
I am delighted at, and approve of your plan of 
traveling. It is the very thing I would have pro- 
posed to you myself had I supposed for an instant 
you would have followed my advice. You should 
have traveled more, and entered more freely into 
society. It is all folly for a woman of your age 
and means to bury yourself here in an old planta- 
tion house, which is enough to make any one die 
with the blues, even beautiful as it is.” 

The state of my health, you know. Doctor, 
forbids anything like my mingling with the gay 
outside world.” 

The little lady heaved a weary sigh. Old Doc- 
tor Mott give a short impatient cough; then 


114 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


clearing his throat said : My dear Madam, for 

once in my life, I am going to speak plainly and 
candidly to you. There is no particular cause 
why you should be an invalid. You have no 
deeply seated disease of any kind ; and at your 
age, you should be a strong healthy woman, and 
as gay and lively as a cricket.” 

Then sitting down by his patient’s side, he con- 
tinued. Now, Mrs. Hammond, let me suggest 
a course of travels for you. It is now the middle 
of July. Say you start from Kichmond the last 
of the month and go to New York, thence to 
Niagara Falls, remain at this wonder of the world 
until near the last of August ; then visit the city 
of Boston, there take a steamship for New 
Orleans; and by that time the weather will be 
delightfully cool and there will be no danger 
whatever from southern sickness. Then, after 
spending the winter in New Orleans you can 
return with the May blossoms to Yirginia. Now, 
if you follow up the course I have thus mapped 
out for you, you may take my word for it, my 
dear madam, as your physician, that you will 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


115 


return to Beechlands an altogether different 
woman, with the roses of health blooming upon 
your cheeks.’' 

The lady bit her lips, as she coldly said : Doc- 
tor Mott, you say I have no seated disease of any 
kind. I hope you do not mean to insinuate that 
I am a prey to ^ hysteria ’ as you physicians term 
it?” 

Not at all, not at all. But the idea I intended 
conveying to your mind is, that you have no 
deeply seated chronic disease of any kind. I 
know, my dear madam, that your body is very 
frail ; but your mind is very strong and healthful. 
Now the body wants proper out-of-door exercise, 
so that it will be in complete harmony with the 
mind.” 

Seeing this speech had the desired effect of 
mollifying the little lady, the old doctor again felt 
at perfect ease ; and ere he took his departure 
from Beechlands, Mrs. Hammond had fully decided 
on taking the journey that he had mapped out 
for her. 

In taking his leave the kind old Doctor asked 


116 


UN'DER THE WILLOWS. 


Where is young Hugh Moreland ? ’’ and his 
face became clouded. 

Mrs. Hammond started slightly, as she an- 
swered. Doctor Moreland is in San, Francisco 
at the present time. Why do you ask ? 

The old Doctor replied : I was called in at 

St. Joseph’s hospital to attend his sister Lulu, last 
night ; she gave birth to a son, and she is scarcely 
more than a child, herself.” Here all the color 
left Mrs. Hammond’s lips, as she eagerly asked, 

Will her child live ? ” 

It will be impossible to answer your question, 
Mrs. Hammond. I am very doubtful if either 
the child or its mother will live. But Avith God 
all things are possible. I will see you again 
before you start upon your journey;” and old 
Doctor Mott then took his leave. 

When he was gone Mrs. Hammond rang her 
bell for Nancy, to whom, when she appeared, she 
said : Desire Jerry to get the carriage in readi- 

ness immediately, I must go to the city without 
delay. You Nancy, must at once prepare to 
accompany me.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


117 


Late in the afternoon Mrs. Hammond called at 
the Hospital, and asked permission to see the 
young lady who had given birth to a son, the 
night before. 

The gentle Sister shook her head mildly, and 
said; Mrs. Erlwin is too low to receive visitors. 
Doctor Mott has just left her and positively for- 
bids any thing of the kind.” 

The child?” said Mrs. Hammond. I must 
and will see that.” 

After some moments of reflection the Sister 
said : Yes ! you can see the child. But what are 

this young mother and babe to you?” The good 
Sister looked keenly into the visitor’s face. 

They are nothing at all to me, good Sister,” 
answered the visitor coldly. Nothing beyond a 
motive created through curiosity, and a feeling of 
human sympathy. Doctor Mott was at my house 
this morning and told me of this young mother 
and child; and I felt that I would like to see 
them, and minister to their comfort if I could 
in any possible way. That is all.” 

Follow me then,” the Sister said. So, leading 


118 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


the way she conducted Mrs. Hammond^ who 
was closely followed by Nanc}^, into a large, 
clean, pleasant, airy, reception room. When the 
vistor was seated, the Sister left the room, saying 
she would return in a few moments. In a little 
while she stood before them with the infant of a 
few hours old in her arms. 

Nancy went up to the Sister, and gently lifted 
the shawl from the little one’s face. After look- 
ing at it for some time she stepped back with a 
slight shudder. 

^^What is it, Nancy?” her mistress asked, in 
some surprise. Nancy could only say Look for 
yourself, mistress.” 

As Mrs. Hammond looked upon the face of the 
little one, it opened its great violet eyes, and she 
put her hand to her face to shut out the vision of 
those innocent baby-eyes. 

On leaving, she thrust a one-hundred dollar 
bank note into the Sister’s hand, saying, as she 
did so, ‘^Look well to your patient, and the 
infant.” 

On returning to her carriage, Mrs. Hammond 


UNDEK TPIE WILLOWS. 


119 


saidj Drive round past the Capitol, Jerry, and 
then to the office of Doctor Mott. I must see 
him at once.” 

The Doctor was just alighting from his buggy, 
when Mrs. Hammond’s carriage drove up. He 
said, am glad to see you, my dear madam. 
Your drive has already sent some color into your 
cheeks. Is there anything I can do for you ? If 
so, alight and come into my office.” 

Thanks, Doctor,” she said. ^^If you can 
spare me a few moments of your valuable time, I 
will be very much pleased, as I have a few ques- 
tions to ask you.” 

Certainly. I am at your service, for your 
own length of time,” — and then he assisted his 
visitor to alight. 

As she did so, she motioned for Nancy to 
remain where she was, saying she should return 
in a few moments. 

When they reached the office, the Doctor placed 
an easy chair for his visitor, saying as he did so. 

Now, my dear madam, what can I do for you ? ” 

After a little, Mrs. Hammond answered, ‘^1 


120 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


have been around to the hospital to see Miss 
Moreland’s child. I want to know if you can tell 
me anything of that girl’s hidden life. As a 
distant relative to my daughter, the Countess of 
Montford, I feel that there are certain points I 
must know something about.” 

The Doctor sat for some time without making 
her any answer. can tell you nothing, Mrs. 
Hammond, save that a few weeks ago Miss More- 
land was rescued from a watery grave in the 
James river, into which she had thrown herself 
in a fit of despair, by two young friends of mine, 
and taken to her present place of refuge. Let 
me see, — I think it was upon the very day of 
your daughter’s marriage. — Yes! It was the 
fifteenth of June ; but she utterly refused to give 
any account of herself, and no one knew her 
until I was called in to attend her last night. I 
recognized her at once, and thought it strange 
that young Hugh Moreland’s sister should be 
there. The Sisters say her linen is marked ^ Lulu 
Erlwin ; ’ she also wears a ring. She took it 
from a ribbon that she wore around her neck and 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


121 


placed it upon her finger just before the birth of 
her son. Since that event her condition has been 
too critical to admit of being questioned. Why 
did not Lulu go to you ? ” 

She did come to me. Doctor, upon the day of 
my daughter’s marriage,” said Mrs. Hammond, 
and of course, on seeing her condition I asked 
her if she was a wife ; and you can judge of the 
horror I experienced when she told me she was 
not. I offered her money and advised her to 
leave the country, and hide her shame and dis- 
grace, for her brother’s sake, if nothing else. 
Under the circumstances it was the best advice I 
could give her, at least I thought so, knowing 
how very devoted her brother was to her. Now, 
you say the unfortunate girl took refuge in the 
river,” and a perceptible shudder passed over the 
questioner’s frame. 

Yes, and was rescued by young Mr. Peyton 
and Hal Matthews.” 

What is your opinion about Miss Moreland’s 
conduct. Doctor Mott?” 

^^Well! Mrs. Hammond, if Miss Moreland told 


122 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


you with her own lips that she was no wife, she 
has been betrayed, deceived; and if so, her 
brother will move heaven and earth to bring her 
betrayer to justice.’’ 

^^Yes, the wrong-doer should be punished,” 
said the lady in a low voice, and somehow a 
sudden gloom came creeping over her ; and her 
thoughts flew, with a strange yearning, over the 
waters to Castle Clyde, — to the home of her 
beautiful daughter. 

A more lonely, dreary place her fancy could 
not have painted. The mother did not know 
this ; and that evening as she rolled slowly along 
the densely-shaded avenue, she shuddered, and a 
faintness came over her, as she leaned her head 
from the carriage window, and the willow boughs 
brushed her cheek. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


123 


CHAPTER XIII. 


^^THE DISAPPEARANCE.’' 


“ Oh! what was love made, if ’tis not the same 
Through joy and through torment, through sorrow and shame ? 
I know not, I ask not, if guilt’s in that heart, 

I but know that I love thee, whatever thou art.” 


— Thomas Moore. 


“ O happy fair! 

Your eyes ai'e load-stars, and your tongue’s sweet air, 
More tunable than lark to shepherd’s ear. 

When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. 

“ Sweet, good night! 

This bud of love, of summer’s rip’ning breath. 

May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.” 


Shakespeare. 


NE afternoon in October^ Beverly Peyton 



entered Doctor Mott’s office with a sad 
and dejected look resting upon his kind, benevo- 
lent face. He threw himself down into a chair 
with that air one generally wears when some 
great misfortune or calamity has overtaken him, 
without saying a word. He remained in this 
silent attitude for perhaps half an hour. 

At last Doctor Mott lifted his eyes from a book 


124 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


he was reading, and mildly asked, ^^Have you 
lost one of your poor patients. Doctor Peyton ? 
If so, you must not take it so much to heart. It 
is beyond the skill of a physician to cure all 
patients he may be called upon to visit, so you 
must get used to such things ; after you feel that 
you have done your duty, there is nothing for 
you to reproach yourself with.” 

^^It is not as you surmise. Doctor Mott,” said 
young Peyton, and his brow flushed, and his gray 
eyes beamed with satisfaction as he thought how 
well some of his poor patients were getting along. 
For in his noble generousness of soul Peyton was 
practicing among the poor ; and when we say the 
poor we mean the very poor, the poor that the 
Saviour said we would always have with us, such 
as were not able to employ a physician, or buy 
medicines, or furnish their loved ones with any 
little nourishment in a sick room. Many a fond 
mother blessed young Doctor Peyton for furnish- 
ing ice to cool her child’s fever, and, when that 
was gone, by his gentle care and nursing, mild 
wines and fruits were furnished for the invalid. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


125 


Not lost a patient ? Ah ! Tm glad to hear it ; 
hut you look very gloomy indeed. You have not 
suffered from any bank failure, I sincerely hope ? 
You make too noble a use of your money for such 
a calamity to befall you. But this year ’57, has 
been a trying year with those having large bank 
accounts.” 

^^No, Doctor Mott, it is nothing where my 
money or my poor patients are concerned ; but I 
come in to tell you that our golden-haired fairy 
and her boy have suddenly disappeared from St. 
Joseph’s, and somehow I feel as if the star of my 
hope had suddenly vanished.” 

There was something so pathetic in Peyton’s 
voice, that Doctor Mott went up to his young 
friend, and laying his hand upon his shoulder, 
wheeled him around so that he could look him 
squarely in the face, saying as he did so, Upon 
my word and honor, my young friend, I am 
indeed truly alarmed at your symptoms. You 
are suffering from an acute case of heart disease ; 
you should take precautionary measures at once. 
Will you allow me to prescribe for you ? ” Then 


126 UNDER THE WILLOWS. 

more seriously, this old physician said, ^^You 
must not think of that, Peyton ; there is a link 
in this girl’s life that forever forbids anything of 
the kind.” 

Poor girl ! she is unfortunate in some re- 
spects,” said Peyton. ^^And though the world 
may condemn her, I would stake my life on her 
goodness and purity of soul. For God, in His 
great wisdom, has implanted in our hearts certain 
instincts by which we may read the hearts of 
those with whom we are thrown in contact. 
Poor Lulu, there has been a great and foul wrong 
perpetrated against her ; and if I can but find 
her, I will right that wrong if possible. I saved 
her life, and of right she belongs to me ; and 
if I never find Lulu, my golden-haired waif, I, 
Beverly Peyton, will go to my grave unwed.” 

The young man’s gray eyes kindled with a 
strange light, soft and tender, as he advocated 
the cause of the fair waif, whom his strong young 
manly arms had rescued from the river a few 
months before. 

Bravo!” said the old physician, taking the 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


127 


young man by the hand. gives me joy to 

hear you speak in this way. Joy to hear that 
you have so much faith in woman. After all, we 
men have more charity toward them than they 
have toward each other.” 

Yes ; that may be,” said the young man, 
^^but I shall always remember that my sainted 
mother was a woman, and for her sake, will 
never judge a woman harshly. But now. Doctor, 
I must use all my exertions to find this young 
creature ; and if I am unsuccessful I will pray 
God to bless her ever.” 

Amen ! ” said Doctor Mott, solemnly, adding, 
hope for her brother’s sake you will find her.” 
^^Her brother? Then you know her. Doctor 
Mott?” 

Yes, Peyton, I know her. But a physician’s 
trust is not to be betrayed. I promised that poor 
girl not even to let her brother know of anything 
that has happened. So you can learn nothing 
from me more than you know already. ” 

The momentary expression of joy that had 
gathered over Peyton’s face, vanished at these 
8 


128 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


words, and he said: Where shall I turn for 

light and sympathy ? Those good and humble 
Sisters at St. Joseph’s are as mute and silent as 
the grave, when I questioned them. So what 
shall I do ? where shall I turn ? ” For a long time 
he racked his active brain for means by which to 
find a clue as to the whereabouts of his golden 
haired waif. 

After office hours were over, he went around 
to the University to have a long and confidential 
talk with his friend Hal Matthews, who was 
devoting his time and talents to studying for 
the ministry. Beverly Peyton received but little 
or no sympathy from him, for Hal Matthews had 
never been in love, and therefore had but little 
sympathy for his friend, who on gaining no 
sympathy soon took his leave. 

So the days and weeks and the months rolled 
by, bringing their usual amount of joys and of 
sorrows. Peyton devoted himaelf with a new 
assiduity to his labors of love and duty among 
the poor, of whom Richmond, like all other cities, 
has many. How he was loved and revered among 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


129 


this class wherein his field of labor lay ! In all his 
rounds of visiting and administering to human- 
ity, this young philanthropist never forgot w^hat 
had now become a part of himself, — his beauti- 
ful golden - haired waif, as he called her. The 
autumn and the winter passed, and he had 
obtained no clue to her whereabouts, and this 
circumstance so preyed upon his mind in connec- 
tion with his many arduous labors, that with the 
opening of spring he was looking pale, thin, and 
careworn. 

One day. Doctor Mott laid his hand upon his 
shoulder, saying : Peyton, my dear boy, you 

must take some rest. You must go to Europe, 
you are wearing your life away, you work too 
hard ; you must have more charity for yourself, 
or you will die young. Then poor suffering 
humanity will be relieved no more at your gener- 
ous hands. We want such men as you to live 
long upon the earth ; therefore, do not overtask 
your strength, and die and leave your vast wealth 
to some charitable institution, for already rich 
men to swell their purses still larger. It may be 


130 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


well, I dare say it is, for rich men to endow those 
institutions ; but the really needy seldom derive 
any benefit therefrom. Those with wealth, should 
use it for the poor, while they are living and 
enjoying health, so that they may know that 
their means have accomplished good.’' 

Yet it were better for one poor soul to receive, 
than none at all,” said Peyton, thoughtfully. 

^^That is ail very true, my young friend,” said 
the old doctor, ^^but one rich man could relieve 
many. I have but little respect for the memory 
of any man of wealth, who would send the 
beggar from his door without bread, or turn a 
sick tenant from his house, because he could not 
pay the rent, with as little remorse as if that 
poor man had no feeling, and then when death 
stares him in the face, give that which he can not 
take with him, to some institution, to have it 
heralded abroad in every penny newspaper in the 
land, that the wealthy Mr. So and So, in djnng 
donated (how I hate the word!) so many thou- 
sand dollars for the benefit of such and such an 
institution. How often had that very man ground 
the poor to the dust.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


131 


In June, when the weather began to become 
somewhat oppressive, Peyton bade his poor patients 
adieu, for a few short months, as he supposed, and 
started for Paris. In a day or two after his arrival 
there he went to the Medical Academy to deliver 
some letters Doctor Mott had given in his charge. 
Strangely enough, the first American to whom 
Peyton was introduced was our old friend Hugh 
Moreland of Virginia, and a strong mutual friend- 
ship soon grew up between these two men. One 
with his fair Saxon face, and sunny brown hair, 
shading a noble, smooth, white brow; and the 
other, dark almost as an Indian, with his deep, 
intelligent gray eyes, from which was expressed 
a world of benevolence. 

As the summer wore on, these two became 
almost inseparable, and a year had passed since 
they first met, and the two years since young 
Nora Hammond had became Countess of Mont- 
ford ; and also two years since poor Lulu More- 
land had found her wedding ring in the library 
at Beechlands ; two years since she had crossed 
the bridge and gazed down into the stream, where 
the boughs met overhead ; then passing on found 


132 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


herself by the river, and in a fit of desperation, 
we may say, for the time being forgot her 
Creator, who cares even for the little sparrows, 
and tried to throw away that life that he had 
given her. It is also two years since the Count- 
ess of Montford’s mother had closed up her old 
mansion and started for the north. 

During these months of close companionship 
young Peyton had often wondered to himself, 
what shadow it was that hung like a pall over the 
life of his friend Moreland. When they were 
upon the streets together, Moreland noticed that 
Peyton gazed intently into every fair face they 
met, as if he was expecting to recognize some 
one dear to him. One day they visited the 
‘^morgue’' together; and Peyton shuddered so 
visibly as they passed by the body of a female 
with long streaming black hair, that Moreland 
asked. 

^^Was any one near and dear to you, ever 
drowned 

Shivering as with an ague, Peyton answered 
huskily. No ! But one, whom I learned to love 
second only to my Creator, I rescued from the 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


133 


James river, two years ago this very day. I 
remember it so well, the fifteenth day of June.” 

Ah ! and Moreland also remembered that date. 
To avoid betraying the deep anguish of his soul, 
he said: 

^‘Will you tell me the particulars of that 
adventure ? ” 

‘^Not here,” was the reply. ^^Wait until we 
reach our hotel, and then I will do so. Perhaps 
you can assist me.” Then involuntarily the 
words — Poor Lulu ” — dropped from his lips. 

Moreland grasped his friend’s arm, as with a 
grip of steel, as he repeated the name, — ^^Lulu — 
Lulu ? My God, what do you mean.” 

As young Peyton looked into his friend’s pallid 
face, he was frightened and appalled at its expres- 
sion. It did not enter Peyton’s mind that this 
was the brother of his golden - haired waif, of 
whom Doctor Mott had told him in Richmond. 

We will leave it for another chapter, for Hugh 
Moreland to learn his sister’s fate. It is time to 
look after some of our other characters, whom 
the reader may desire to hear from. Truth to 
say, we feel that we have left them all too long. 


134 UNDEE THE WILLOWS. / 


CHAPTER XIY. 

CAPTAIN EUSSELL. 

“My child, my child! these bursting tears, 

The first mine eyes have shed for years, 

Though deepest conflicts they express, 

Yet flow not all in bitterness! 

Oh! thou hast bid a wither’d heart. 

From desolation’s slumber start; 

Thy voice of pity and of love 
Seems o’er its icy depths to move 
E’en as a breeze of health, w'hich brings 
Life, hope, and healing, on its wings. 

And there is mercy yet! I feel 
Its influence o’er my spirit steal; 

How welcome were each pang below 
If guilt might be atoned by woe! 

Think’st thou I yet may be forgiven? 

Shall prayers unclose the gate of heaven? 

Oh ! if it yet avail to plead. 

If judgment be not yet decreed. 

Our hearts shall blend their suppliant cry. 

Till pardon shall be seal’d on high! 

Yet, yet I shrink! — Will Mercy shed 

Her dews upon this fallen head? ” — Hemans, 

“ Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do ; 

I swear by that which I will lose for thee, 

To prove him false, that says I love thee not. 

— Shakespeare. 

X ’CLARE for it,” said old aunt Hannah, the 
cook at Beechlands, as she waddled up and 
down before the door of her cabin one evening 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


135 


in June. I jist ’dare for it diilliin, I jist do tink 
de ole ^ boy ’ am let loose on de face ob de green 
yarth.” The old soul wiped her great, fat, black, 
good-natured face with a corner of her striped 
cotton apron. Yes, I tell you, chillun, de world 
am turned upside down. Here; jist as I was git- 
tin’ comfortable settled an’ coming’ camiliar wid 
my third husband, Miss Helen mus’ done write 
dat she, too, am married out and cornin’ home, an’ 
dat I mus’ get up a rousin’ an’ a tiptop dinner for 
her Yankee captain. What am the world a cornin’ 
to ? I shoudent be a bit ’stonish’d to see de sun 
rise in de west tomorrow mornin’; and whateber 
did Miss Helen to marry agin for ? Don’t see 
what she wanted to wid a second husband, no 
how.” 

Pshaw ! ole ’oman,” said her new husband, 
Ben. Be generous like to Miss Helen. Can’t 
you gib Avhite folks de same privilege you do 
to a nigger ? If Miss Helen wants two husbands’ 
let her hab ’em, an’ de third one too, if she habs 
de chance. You is older nor Miss Helen is, an’ 
sure you didn’t sot her de ’zample. For my part, 


136 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


I is glad de poor critter is got suthin’ to Vert lier 
mind from de fust one.” 

Dar now, Ben Bolls, don’t you go preacliin’ 
any of your long winded sermons to me, ’bout 
Miss Helen an’ her rights. I’s ole’ ’nuff to be 
your mudder, an’ I knows what I’s talkin’ bout, I 
does. So don’t you go for to settin’ up of your 
judgment agin mine.” Then Aunt Hannah placed 
her hands upon her hips in a threatening attitude, 
and Bolls, aunt Hannah’s third, quieted down, 
with a subdued look on his sly young face. Jerry 
appeared around the corner of the mansion, with 
his face all aglow, for on the morrow he could 
see Nancy, who had been traveling with her mis- 
tress for nearly two years. 

Well ! brother Jerry Dumont, what am your 
’pinion ob Miss Helen, an’ dis second marriage ? ” 
said aunt Hannah. 

What do I think ? I think it is all right. If 
Miss Helen has found a congenial companion, and 
her health is restored, and she is happy, I am 
only too glad.” Then Jerry passed on to the 
stables. ^^Dar’, ole ’oman. What do you think 
of dat?” said Ben in a tone of triumph. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


137 


I don’t ’tink anything oh it, ’t all. It don’t 
make me any better satisfied, in my mind, even 
if Jerry Dumont did say it. Ben Bolls, dat all 
comes of eddicatin’ a nigger ; de more you eddi- 
cate a man, de bigger devil he ’comes. So 
Ben don’t you nebber fro’ away your valuable 
time ’pon books. Yes, Ben, I’s noticed it all my 
life, dat the more people reads, de more dey come 
’sessed ob ole Satan ; an’ I wasen’t born yester- 
day, I can tell you.” 

^^Yes, dat am so, ole ’oman,” said Ben, with a 
knowing wink. 

But horror of horrors ! aunt Hannah saw this 
wink, and stepping to the door of the cabin, she 
seized the broom, and made for her worshipped 
third. Ben being young, and swift, had taken to 
his heels, and was beyond the reach of her hand 
if not of her tongue. Shaking her head, she 
wrathfully exclaimed : Dat young nigger willun 
dared to call me an ole ’oman. I’ll teach him 
manners to his elders, de young rascal. But 
young niggers hasen’t de heart dat old niggers 
has, an’ I’s don sot so much store by dis one too, 


138 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


since my chile has done been gone from me wid’ 
my young Miss Nora. To think the young war- 
mint would hab de impudence to poke fun at me. 
I’ll break ebery bone in de young rascal’s body. 
I will sue de State ob Virginny for bigamy, an* 
get a ’vorce, or my name isen’t Mrs. Hannah 
Bolls. I wish my Comely was here. She is a chip 
from de ole block ; she would help me manage 
dis young scape-grace of a fadder ob hers. But, 
what is I doin’ wid’ white folks* time, anyhow; 
an* so I’s to get up a fine dinner to-morrow for de 
new master. What is I to get ; it is too late in 
de season for *possum an* sweet taters, an* de 
turkeys am all settin* an’ de goblers am poor, an* 
what is one to do ? If Miss Helen wanted to 
marry, why didn’t she marry while de turnip 
salad was good, den I’d have knowed what to 
got. Now, I wonder if dis Yankee capun loves 
corn dodger; but in course, he does, any fool 
would prefer corn-bread to wooden-hams, but I 
can’t see how dey cooks ’em, for de life ob me.” 
Then aunt Hannah heaved a sigh as if not know- 
ing which way to turn. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


139 


Jerry had overheard a part of her soliloquy and 
said : Sister Hannah, you know that every- 

thing that heart could wish for is to be found 
at Beechlands, with which to get up a feast fit 
for the king. You have all the help you want. 
So now go to work, and press Ben into your 
service, and set him to beating eggs. Bake your 
cakes this evening and to-morrow you’ll have the 
oven for your fish and meats. We must surprise 
Miss Helen and her husband with a real old- 
fashioned Virginian feast.” 

^^Yes, that am very well put in, Jerry; one 
word for Miss Helen and her husband, an’ two 
for that eddicated nigger as is a cornin’ wid her. 
I un’erstan’s all ’bout it; I wasen’t borned yester- 
day. But if Ben Bolls dares to come in dis 
kitchen, he get his head well mashed with the 
’tater masher. Dar now ! ” 

Next day, when the Countess of Montford’s 
mother, now Mrs. Bussell, and her husband 
arrived at Beechlands, they found a repast await- 
ing them, that would have done credit to a royal 
cuisine. 


140 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Could it be possible that this radiant, blooming 
woman, was the frail delicate creature who, two 
years ago, had driven her daughter to the arms 
of a man whom she did not love ? Yes, it must 
be so, for Mrs. Kussell, a bride of one month, 
appears almost as youthful and fair as her 
daughter, was upon the day of her leaving Beech- 
lands ; and twice since then the leaves have 
fallen and died. Two years ago Mrs. Bussell 
really did think that long ere this, the boughs 
would be waving over her grave ; on the con- 
trary, here she is now, in her beautiful home, as 
strong as in the days of her youth, for the depths 
of her heart have been stirred, and are filled with 
a love it had never before known. 

It all came about in this way. Captain Bussell 
was a bachelor commanding the steamer in which 
Mrs. Hammond took passage from Boston to New 
Orleans ; and before the great southern city was 
reached, it was a case of love on both sides. 
It is said that love is a great restorer. This 
must be true, for Mrs. Hammond’s health began 
to improve rapidly, and after reaching her des- 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


141 


tination, as the months rolled by, she began to 
look forward with a strange pleasure hitherto 
unknown, for the arrival of Captain Russell’s 
vessel in port. This went on for over a year, 
and at length, when May-day came, and he was 
released from the command of his vessel at his 
own request, he came to her and asked her to be 
his wife. Without the least hesitation she an- 
swered him, ^^yes.” She even forgot that he was 
poor, and a genuine Yankee, born in Boston. 
She only knew she loved him, and on the day of 
their arrival at Beechlands, she had been his 
bride but one short, happy month. As they 
bowled along over the bridge, in her best carriage, 
which had been sent into Richmond to meet 
them, the willow boughs again swept her cheeks ; 
and Mrs. Russell hid her face in her husband’s 
bosom, and a great and mighty sob welled up 
from her heart. 

What is it ? Why those tears ?” asked Cap- 
tain Russell, smoothing the waves of jetty hair 
that rested upon his bosom, with much love 
and tenderness. This wiKul little mother, who 


142 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


had brought so much misery to her only child, 
answered : Oh ! I have been so happy in the 

last few months I had almost forgotten my child. 
I never realized until within the last month what 
it was to be bound to a man you could not love.” 

What do you mean, my dear ? ” said Kussell, 
turning pale. 

^^It is this, that now fills my heart with the 
only cloud. I mean, that I could not fully sym- 
pathize with Nora when she told me of her great 
love for young Doctor Moreland ; and now, all 
of a sudden, as you and I have passed under the 
willows where she and he plighted their troth, it 
has pierced my heart with a wail of anguish, as I 
have tried to realize what it would have cost me 
to give you up. I did not know, I did not know.” 

There ; ” said her kind mate, soothing her 
gently, ^^wipe those tears away, and let us be 
happy on this day of all others, now that we are 
going into port. For, darling Helen, I have all 
the old superstition of a sailor, that the happiest 
day of a man’s life should be the day on which 
he takes his bride home.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


143 


‘^Yes, and to go to sea no more/' said Mrs. 
Eussell, lifting her face, which was suffused with 
blushes, which made it beautiful, the husband 
thought, as he stooped, and tenderly kissed her 
brow. 

They spent a very happy day at Beechlands, 
and when the sun had sunk bej^ond the western 
horizon, leaving a grand and glorious coloring of 
radiant tints in its wake, Mrs. Russell asked her 
husband to walk with her down by the stream, as 
she wished to talk to him about Nora. 

Taking her still handsome face between his 
hands, and looking earnestly down into the dark 
eyes that were ever submissive to him. Captain 
Russell kissed the mouth, remarking as he did 
so, I sincerely hope that your daughter is as 
happy as we are." 

With linked arms, they visited spots over 
which Mrs. Russell had not been for years ; and 
among them was the grave of her first husband. 
Here Captain Russell paused and read the name 
of him who sle^Dt beneath that costly monument; 
also the date of his birth and of his death, and 
9 


144 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


looking at his wife said : There was some dif- 

ference between yonr age and his, my darling ? ” 

Yes ! ” she replied slowly and thoughtfully, 
a difference of twenty-five years.’’ 

u you happy with him ? ” 

I was not unhappy. Mr. Hammond was very 
kind and indulged my every caprice, and I loved 
no one better than I did him.” 

‘^Mr. Hammond was very wealthy, was he 
not?” 

Yes,” she said : All my wealth or most of 

it came through my marriage with him.” 

But, my love, I have brought you no wealth,” 
said her husband. 

I care not for that, so long as you love me.” 
And her countenance glowed with the happy 
conviction that he did love her. 

Has it never entered your mind, Helen, that 
I might have married you merely for your 
wealth?” 

‘^Not at all,” she answered in a confident 
tone. have been too supremely happy ever 
to question your motives in any w'ay.” As she 
spoke, she leaned her head upon his bosom. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


145 


Captain Kussell stooped and kissed her. Two 
glittering tear-drops fell, as he said : God for- 
ever bless you, my Helen, for your faith and 
trust in me. Let us leave this spot and go 
further down the stream.” 

They slowly wandered on until they came to 
the very spot where Nora and Hugh had plighted 
their troth. 

When they were seated upon a rustic chair, 
Mrs. Russell told her husband all about Nora’s 
marriage, and the part she had taken to bring 
it about. The keenest, sharpest, most bitter 
reproach her heart could feel, was when he said : 

Helen, how could you doom your only child, 
and she so young, to such a fate • to such untold 
wretchedness as a loveless marriage must be, 
when the pure affections of her young heart were 
given to a noble man, whose only fault was that 
he had no title. God pity you, and that poor 
unfortunate child.” The kind-hearted man turned 
his face from her for a moment, then fixing his 
eyes upon her again, he asked: ^^Do you often 
hear from her ? ” 


146 ‘ 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


I have had hut three letters from her in the 
two years since she left me^ and they were cold, 
formal and unsatisfactory.’’ 

Yet you can not reproach your daughter for 
thus writing in that tone ?” 

I think Nora should write more frequently to 
me,” said the mother in a quivering voice. 

Then you really do love your daughter, 
Helen?” 

^‘Oh! yes. I love my- beautiful Nora; but I 
did not know how much I loved her until you 
have taught my poor ungrateful heart what love 
is. We can never sympathize with the trials and 
sufferings of others, unless we have passed 
through similar trials. So it must be with love 
and joy. I am very unhappy in consequence of 
the course I pursued. But Nora yielded with so 
much seeming passiveness .to my wishes at the 
time, that in my enfeebled condition, I could not 
realize the terrible sin I was perpetrating against 
her.” 

Finally Captain Eussell spake soothingly to his 
wife, saying: ^^Let us trust in heaven, Helen, 
that your daughter’s life may not be as wretched 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


147 


as it miglit be under the circumstances, and that 
her young heart may be filled with a world of 
love for her husband.’’ 

By this time the dews of night were beginning 
to fall. With a dreary sigh, Mrs. Bussell arose, 
saying: ^^Let us return to the house.” So in the 
gloaming, they wandered slowly back to the 
mansion. 

As aunt Hannah looked into the open doorway, 
she said to herself: ^^Miss Helen hab got a 
mighty nice lookin’ husband — almost as han’some 
as Ben Bolls — but she am not happy; nider am 
I. Her chile is in forren parts; so am mine. 
Now if she was ’termined for to marry de second 
time, why didn’t she wait ’till Miss Nora could be 
here, to witness de ’formin’ ob de ceremony?” 

This last was said aloud as she reached the 
door of her own cabin, and was answered by 
Ben, who said: ^^Why diden’t you set Miss 
Helen de ’zample, Hannah, my dear ? ” 

Why, why? You young villun, you wouldn’t 
let me wait for my Comely to come from ober de 
sea ; but white folks am more particler ’bout dese 
tings, you know, dan culled pussons.” 


148 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


It was me, was it ? ” said Ben in a low, soft 
voice. 

Yes, you know it was.” 

a^erry well, Hannah, my lub,” said Ben, 
don’t let you an’ me go for to a quarrelin’ on 
dis de fust night of Miss Helen’s ’rival at home.” 
Then he sat down on the doorstep and looked 
very melancholy. After a little, he said : Han- 
nah, my young lam’” — and the sly villain of 
twenty looked into aunt Hannah’s face with a 
very saintly expression — Hannah, my young 
lam’, — Mrs. Bolls, I mean, — has you got any 
loose change about you?” 

Aunt Hannah looked at him closely for a 
minute, then asked: ^^What do you want with 
it, Ben — Mr. Bolls, I mean?” 

^^I’s gwine to meetin’ to-night,” said Ben, ^^an’ 
de smallest change I’s got is a ten dollar note ; 
an’ dese very stressin’ times, it is a little more 
dan I want to put into de hat at one time. Five 
dollars is as much as I can stan’, ’siderin’ I’s now 
a man wid a family.” 

There was an anxious tone in aunt Hannah’s 
voice, as she asked: “Is you seeking ’ligion, 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


149 


Ben ? If sOj I tink I’ll go to meetin’ wid you 
to-night.” 

Yes, my lub, I’s seekin’ ’ligion ; but I don’t 
tink I’ll come froo to-night. An’ as you is 
werry tired, you had better ’tire and pray for 
me.” 

But you might come froo to-night, Ben.” 

No, I don’t tink I will, my lub. But in case 
I should. I’ll sen’ for you de moment I begin to 
grow happy.” 

With this assurance, aunt Hannah, who really 
was tired, went to her chest where she had her 
money stored away, got five dollars and gave it 
to the young scamp, humming softly as she did so : 

“ Oh, my little soul’s gwine to shine, gwine to shine; 

Oh, my little soul’s gwine to shine by de great white throne; 

Oh, my little soul’s gwine to shine an’ I shall live in heben by 
an’ by.” 

As she saw Ben turn away, she thanked her 
stars that she had the money to give him, little 
dreaming of how it would be expended. Instead 
of going to church, Ben went to a colored ball, 
on a neighboring plantation; and aunt Hannah 
waited the night through for the glad tidings of 
his “ coming through,” as he called it. 


150 


UNDER THE WILLOWS 


CHAPTER XV, 


OUTWITTED 


“ What man so wise, what earthly wit so ware, 

As to descry the crafty, cunning train, 

By which deceit doth mask in visor fair. 

And cast her colors dyed deep in grain. 

To seem like truth, whose shape she well can feign, 

And fitting gestures to her puri)ose frame. 

The guiltless man with guile to entertain.” — Spexseb, 

“ Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes. 

And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice ! ” 


— Shakespeabe. 


IME wore on, the heat of summer passed, 



and the breath of autumn swept over the 
earth, hushing to sleep the countless beautiful 
flowers, showing tliat, 

“ The melancholy days had come, the saddest of the year, 
rf wailing winds, and naked woods, and meadows brown and sear. 
Heaped in the hollows of the grove, the autumn leaves lie dead; 
They rustle to the eddying gust, and to the rabbit’s tread. 

The rohin and the wren are flown, and from the shrubs the jay. 

And from the wood-top calls the crow, through all the gloomy day.” 

So sang our own poet, Bryant. Then winter, 
and spring, after which summer bloomed again, 
and three years have flown since Nora Hammond 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


151 


became Countess of Montford, and one year since 
Mrs. Russell returned to Beecliwood, a changed * 
woman in more respects than one, than she was 
upon that day she saw her daughter leave her, 
and had turned so coldly away from poor Lulu. 

We will return to Castle Clyde, and look after 
Nora, who, the reader may remember, had been 
scorned by her husband. 

Lord Montford carried out his intention of set- 
ting out for London, the day after his arrival at 
the Castle. All Nora’s pleadings with him to 
take her with him were of no avail. He took 
his departure without her, and it was six weeks 
ere he returned. He even left the Castle with- 
out giving her a direct farewell. 

With all this indifference on the young Earl’s 
part, if his mother had not been at Castle Clyde, 
Nora could have hoped and prayed that he would 
not have returned for months. For after her 
first warm appeal had been treated with such 
cold and heartless indifference, the poor young 
creature made up her mind that she would never 
again appeal to him for sympathy or friendship, 


152 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


whatever the consequences. When six terrible 
weeks had passed, at this old, dreary, tumble- 
down place, under the same roof with the Dowa- 
ger, poor Nora really felt a relief when she 
entered the breakfast room one morning and 
found that Lord Montford had returned. She 
felt his presence would be a relief of some kind, 
from the Dowager’s presence, for now it really 
was war between them. 

When the Earl came up he brought several 
workmen with him, and set them to work at 
repairing the old ruin, and in less than six 
months the American heiress’ money had worked 
wonders. The ruined portion was torn down and 
rebuilt, and the whole massive structure put in 
perfect order, and furnished with rare taste, 
regardless of expense. 

When all this was done. Lord Montford filled 
the Castle with company from London, — com- 
pany of his own selection — but from whom his 
pure young wife shrank with loathing. Why 
dwell upon the many horrors she had to endure ? 
she, who had never mingled with any but the 
purest and best of society in her native land. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


153 


In eighteen months, the Lord of Montford had 
run through the five hundred thousand dollars 
Mrs. Hammond had given into his hands on his 
marriage with her daughter. When that was all 
gone he went to Nora and asked her to write 
for more. She let six months roll by before 
she complied with his request. At the end of 
that time, receiving a letter from her mother, 
announcing her marriage with Captain Kussell, 
she sat down and wrote somewhat coldly. 

Mamma : — Please send the Earl more money. 
That entrusted to his care on the day of my mar- 
riage is gone. I hope you will not think it 
extravagant to apply for more ; he is an ^ Earl,’ 
you know, and half a million is quite a moderate 
sum for such a person to spend in two years on 
fast horses, wine, and women. Mamma, I am 
sincerely glad that your health is restored, and 
that you have found some one to love; and I 
pray that you may never be robbed of that love. 

Your daughter. 

Countess of Montford.” 


154 


UNDEE THE WILLOWS. 


That was all. There was no direct complaint 
of any kind : nothing to tell what she had en- 
dured in the last two years. 

Three months passed after Nora wrote this 
letter, and yet no money had come to Lord 
Montford from the United States. He was in a 
terrible plight. He was without money and 
without credit, and did not know what to do. 
At last he bethought himself of his wife’s jewels ; 
they were something that a royal princess might 
be proud of : — jewels that had descended to Mrs. 
Hammond from her ancestors ; for Mrs. Russell 
was of French extraction. These jewels had 
been given to Nora at the time of her marriage, 
with the greater portion of the Hammond jewels, 
which made a very valuable collection. As a 
last resource, the Earl thought to get possession 
of these jewels, and borrow money upon them 
until Mrs. Hammond should remit him more from 
the United States. When he appealed to the 
young Countess, declaring that his honor, as a 
nobleman, was at stake, and that he would be a 
ruined man if she did not let him have her jewels 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


155 


for the purpose of raising money, she turned 
coldly upon him, saying ironically, Lord Mont- 
ford, as long as it was only a matter of money, I 
yielded to your demands ; and would do so still if 
I had money; but my jewels are my own per- 
sonal property, and I will not part with them, as 
matters now stand between us, under any con- 
sideration. You have been deaf to my every 
prayer ; and, in return, I will be as cold as the 
great, glittering diamonds that lie in their velvet 
cases.” 

It is needless to tell the scene that followed 
this announcement. 

The Earl’s eyes flashed gleams of the deepest 
anger, as he left her apartments and went below 
to confer with his mother. After an hour’s con- 
versation with her, he felt somewhat relieved. 

It was the custom at Castle Clyde to have tea 
served at eleven o’clock, before retiring for the 
night; and Nora took her tea, little dreaming 
that a great catastrophe -had been prevented fall- 
ing upon her through the shrewdness of her maid 
Cornelia, who, unobserved, had seen the Dowager 


156 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


prepare Nora’s tea, and pour a small powder of 
some kind into it. When the Dowager’s back 
was turned from the dining-room for a minute, 
Cornelia crept softly from her hiding-place. The 
quick instinct of her race told her for whom the 
drugged drink was intended, and, almost in a 
twinkling of the eye, she took the cup from her 
mistress’ plate, and exchanged it with that at the 
old lady’s plate. Dar, I’s fixed you ; you’ll be 
cotched in your own trap. Dar ! I hah it ; I’ll 
cotch de ole debbil an’ de young one too.” 

Taking up an empty cup from the table, she 
proceeded to divide the tea intended for her 
young mistress equally between the Dowager 
and her son. When Lord Montford’s mother 
re-entered the dining-room she had no suspicion, 
and the consequence was that the sun was high 
in the heavens the next day, before the mother 
and son awoke. 

Even then they were awakened by the cries of 
Cornelia, calling for some one to come to her 
young mistress’ assistance, who, she declared, had 
been robbed of all her jewels. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 157 

Lord Montford arose at once, feeling drowsy, 
and hastening to the Countess’ apartments, found 
that it was as Cornelia said. All Nora’s jewels 
had disappeared ; the empty cases were scattered 
over the dressing-room in every direction. Nora 
stood like a block of marble, her black eyes 
emitting gleams of fire. As Lord Montford 
entered, she hissed forth, Dastard ! where are 
my jewels?” 

At this a faintness came over the Earl, and 
sinking into the nearest chair he said, ^^Lady 
Montford, you are laboring under a mistake, if 
you suppose for an instant that I know aught of 
them.” 

Then your mother does ! ” said Nora ex- 
citedly. 

^^You misjudge even her. We will telegraph 
to London for a detective to come up and work 
this matter up.” 

In leaving the apartment, he cast a searching 
glance into the face of Cornelia, the expression of 
which never changed. One looking at her, would 
never have supposed for a moment that she had 


158 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


seen this look. But when his Lordship was gone 
her great black eyes burned like living coals of 
fire. Seeing the terrible excitement under which 
her young mistress was laboring, she used every 
effort she could think of to restore her to calm- 
ness; and, late in the afternoon, had succeeded 
so well that her young Countess obtained a quiet 
sleep. 

Lord Montford did not telegraph to London 
for a detective ; ” but, next morning, set out for 
London to visit his attorneys. Little & Becker, of 
Lincoln Inn. Through them he was determined 
to force his mother-in-law to deliver the remain- 
der of his wife’s fortune. 

Cornelia could read and write, and during the 
absence of Lord Montford, wrote, unknown to 
her mistress, a letter to Mrs. Russell, telling her 
many strange things, and sent it across the Atlan- 
tic. In time the result may be seen. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


159 


CHAPTER XYI. 


DOCTOR Peyton’s story. 

“ oil Memory, torture me no more, 

The present ’s all o’ercast; 

My hopes of future bliss are o’er. 

In mercy veil the past.” — B ykon. 

“ But now, when every sigh 
Is fraught, alas! with meaning full and deep; 

When Hope resigns her seat to Memor}*-, 

And leaves me o’er her vanished dreams to weep.” — A xon. 



T may be remembered that we left our two 


Jh American physicians in the streets of Paris, 
on their way to their hotel in the Rue St. 
Honore. Plaving arrived there, Dr. Moreland 
conducted his friend to his private apartments, 
and over their cigars — for they were both Vir- 
ginians — Dr. Peyton took up the thread of his 
story and resumed : 

No, my friend, I never had a relative 
drown, to my knowledge ; but the form we saw 
this afternoon taken from the Seine, recalled so 
forcibly to my mind an adventure I had some 


10 


160 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


three years ago on the James river, that I 
shudder even now when I think of it.” 

He paused, lost in deep thought for a moment. 
In a little time, Hugh Moreland said : I am all 
attention. Proceed ! ” 

remember,” continued Peyton, ^Hhat the day 
was intensely warm — not a breeze was stirring, 
not a leaf moving. An old college mate and 
myself, early in the morning had rowed down 
the river some six or eight miles from Kichmond, 
on a fishing excursion ; but it was so warm that 
the fish would not bite. In the afternoon, we 
resolved to change pur base, and rowed back a 
couple of miles, but fished no more that day, for 
just as we reached the point steered for, we saw 
a female form disappear, and I instantly dived 
after her and brought her to the surface in time 
to save her life. Oh 1 Doctor Moreland, what a 
beautiful young creature she was, with long 
streaming masses of golden hair and heavenly 
blue eyes. This is the vision brought to my 
mind by our visit to the Morgue.” 

“ I think you called her Lulu,” said Moreland, 
in a low voice. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


161 


Yes ; I mentioned the name of ^ Lulu/ and 
noticed how terribly agitated you were. Why 
was it so ? ” 

Hugh Moreland used all his self-command, as 
he answered : There’s something so very roman- 
tic in all this, that I must have betrayed all my 
sympathy. Go on, my friend, let us hear how 
this adventure ended.” 

Peyton told the whole story of his conveying 
his golden-haired waif to Saint Joseph’s Hospital, 
of the birth of the child a few weeks later, and 
of the sudden disappearance of mother and infant 
from that haven of safety. He also confessed 
the great love that had sprung up in his heart 
for this fair young creature. 

Her other name ? ” asked Moreland. Lulu 
what ? ” 

The Sisters at Saint Joseph’s said her name 
was Erlwin — Lulu Erlwin. But I am convinced 
that this lovely creature must have been most 
deeply wronged. She looked too pure and holy 
for sin. There is a great wrong somewhere per- 
petrated against Lulu.- From this time forward, 


162 


UI^DER THE WILLOWS. 


I shall devote my life to finding her, and 
urge upon her to confide in me. If it be as I 
imagine, I will follow her betrayer to the end of 
the earth, to punish him and vindicate her.’' 

Amen ! ” said Moreland, very solemnly. His 
face was as white as death, and the lines were 
drawn full and deep around his mouth. Amen ! 
Doctor Peyton, and God bless you. I, too, am a 
strong advocate of the weaker sex, and will do 
my utmost to assist you in your search and 
action.” Then he arose and rapidly paced the 
floor to and fro. A close observer might have 
seen that he was trying, by physical exercise, to 
master some deep and terrible emotion. Beverly 
Peyton was generally a very close observer; but, 
this time, his thoughts were so completely ab- 
sorbed by the subject upon which he had been 
dwelling, that he failed to closely observe his 
friend, and therefore he did not see his agitation. 

Pausing, at last, by his friend’s side, the older 
man said: ^^So you love this fair girl, and still 
have faith in her?” 

Yes, I would give all my fair prospects in life 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


163 


to meet with Lulu and her beautiful boy. For 
the present, fate seems rather against me. This 
morning I received a letter from our old friend, 
Doctor Mott, requesting me to go to Castle Clyde, 
in the North of England, and convey the Count- 
ess of Montford in safety to her mother s home, 
at Beechland, near Richmond. It appears that 
the young Countess has contracted a most 
wretched and unfortunate marriage, and is at 
present an invalid. I will have to set out on 
this mission at once.’’ 

Moreland, whose face was in the shadow, 
merely said, as indifferently as possible: ^^It is 
well perhaps ; yea, I know it is well, that we can 
not know all things.” 

His face was perfectly colorless, and his breath 
came quick and short. Nora, his beautiful love, 
was going home ; she was unhappy ; sick, perhaps 
dying. In a voice calmed by a great heart-agony, 
he said to his friend: ^^Yes, Peyton, go and 
perform this mission assigned to you, and God be 
with you.” 

In a few days after 4his, Doctor Peyton left 


164 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Paris for England. As the days wore on, Hugh 
Moreland was seized with a great desire to return 
to his old home : to stand again within the little 
ivy-grown cottage, where he and Lulu had spent 
so many happy hours together, and upon the 
little piazza, where he had so often stood watch- 
ing a pair of little feet, that each sunshiny day 
came tripping with the joyousness of a bird 
towards him; but oh! those days were in the 
far-off past. A few days later, Moreland yielded 
to the great desire of his heart, and embarked 
for his native shores. It so happened that upon 
the day of his departure from France, his friend. 
Dr. Peyton, was nearing the New York harbor 
with his frail charge, and her sable companion, 
the faithful and intelligent Cornelia. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


165 


CHAPTER XVII. 


GOING HOME. 


“ I would not live alway ; I ask not to stay 
Where storm after storm rises dark o’er the way; 
The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here 
Are enough for life’s joys, full enough for its cheer.” 


— Wm. a. Muhx,enbebg. 


If I can, I’ll come again, mother, from out my resting-place ; 
Though you’ll not see me, mother, I shall look upon your face; 
Though I cannot speak a word, I shall hearken what you say, 
And be often, often with you when you think I’m far away.” 


— Tennyson. 



N August southern sun was just sinking 


behind the motionless tree-tops, as an easy 
traveling carriage rolled slowly over the bridge 
at Beechlands ; and a pale, wan face lifted itself 
from the carriage cushions. A face intensely 
beautiful even with the shadows of ill health rest- 
ing upon it, and the rings of dark hair were in 
great contrast to that death-like face, as she looked 
forth upon old familiar waymarks. A great sob 
convulsed that delicate form, as a spray of 
willow brushed her cheeky. 


166 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


There ! Miss Nora, for ’de lub ob hebben, do 
not ’cite yourself so. Be calm ; here we is at ole 
Beechlands once more ; an’ I would’nt gib it 
for all de Britains an’ Islands in the world. So 
cheer up, honey, we’ll soon hab our mammy’s 
arms ’round our necks, an’ den you’ll grow strong 
agin.” So said Cornelia, taking the hand of her 
young mistress in her own. 

Ah, yes ! Cornelia, we are at home at last. 
The home I have sighed for, for three long years. 
Now I feel that it will not be long ere that home 
will welcome me no more. Do you think, Corne- 
lia, that my mother will warmly welcome me, or 
will she be as cold as she was upon the day I left 
her ? ” 

The poor, weary, home-sick child burst into a 
flood of tears. 

There Miss Nora, honey, dat will neber do. 
You must not gib away to your feelin’s like dis. 
Ob course. Miss Helen will warmly welcome you 
back.” 

Thus kindly cheered and encouraged, Nora 
again looked forth just as the carriage rolled by 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


167 


where she and Hugh had gathered violets, three 
years before. As she thought of then and noio 
she fell back in a swoon into Cornelia’s arms. 
When, at length, she again opened her eyes, she 
saw a dark, well-remembered face bending over 
her. It was bathed in tears ; — tears of anguish, 
wrung from a remorseful heart. Slowly the en- 
feebled arms were twined about her neck, and the 
pale lips murmured faintly : Mamma, mamma 1 
at last I am with you, but I have only come home 
to die. And oh ! mamma, how well and beautiful 
you are looking. You who three years ago, were 
as pale and feeble as I am now. Then, the roses 
of health were blooming upon my cheeks. Now 
they are blooming upon yours, mamma, and the 
lily is on mine.” 

There was so much pleading pathos in the 
voice, and so much unhappiness expressed in that 
dark thin face, that Mrs. Kussell dropped her head 
in the pillows, beside that of her suffering child, 
as if to shut out the reproachful looks she fan- 
cied must be bent upon her. 

There, mamma ! ” said Nora, laying her hand 


168 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


upon the dark head beside her. Do not grieve, 
it is better thus.” 

After the mother had become somewhat calmed, 
she asked: ^^Nora, my daughter, do you not 
want to see your little brother who came to me 
six weeks ago ? My child and Captain Russell’s ? ” 

Nora gave a start of surprise, as she exclaimed: 

A little brother ? Then, 

‘ Nay, nay, you must not weep, nor let your grief be wild; 

You should not fret for me, mother — you have another child/ 

Oh ! Nora, Nora. Why will you talk of leav- 
ing me, when it rends my heart with such keen 
pain ? ” 

^^Then, you really do love me, mamma? I 
have sometimes thought, in the wretched years 
that have passed since we parted, that you surely 
could have no love for me. But your words make 
me very happy. And now, mamma, let me look 
upon the face of my little brother.” 

Mrs. Russell went to the door, and softly called 
for Nancy to bring in the infant. When he was 
brought in and laid down by her side, Nora 
kissed his little face, bathing it with her tears. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


169 


asking : What do you call your beautiful boy, 

mamma ? ” 

The unhappy mother answered: ^^We have 
been waiting for your return. His father says, 
you shall have the pleasure of naming him, if 
you will do it.” 

Nora lay for a long time in her old chamber at 
Beechlands, without observing anything. When 
Nancy had taken the child back to place it in its 
crib, Nora finally asked : Mamma, will you do 

something that will please me very much. It is 
but a small favor that I ask of you. It is that 
you let me name my little brother, Hugh. That 
signifies so much to me, you know.” 

Yes, my daughter, most willingly will we call 
our baby, Hugh.” As the name left her lips, the 
mother saw a gray ashen pallor overspread Nora’s 
face ; and again falling upon her knees at the 
bedside, she wailed forth in tones of the most 
intense anguish. Oh, my daughter, try to 
rally from this terrible disappointment, that I, 
your wretched mother, have brought upon you ; 
and let me atone in park at least, for the great 


170 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


wrong, that through my foolish ambition, I have 
done you.’' 

The voice was very weak that answered, 

^^All is atoned for, mamma. All is forgiven. 
We will have another talk when I am somewhat 
rested, and then I shall want to see my little 
brother’s father.” 

With gentle hands Nancy darkened the cham- 
ber, and Nora for a time was left to her own 
thoughts. 

Dr. Peyton, after seeing the young Countess 
safe under her mother’s protecting care, drove 
back to Richmond, and, at Mrs. Russell’s request, 
sent out Dr. Mott. In a short time after Mrs. 
Russell left her daughter’s room, the kind old 
physician presented himself. To his attentive 
ear Mrs. Russell, in a broken voice described 
Nora’s condition. 

am greatly astonished, and very sorry to 
hear this,” he said. Your daughter did possess 
a splendid constitution. I cannot understand it ; 
I cannot realize that she is the wreck you say she 
is. Of what does she complain ? ” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


171 


As far as I can learn, and understand, Doctor 
Mott, she is suffering from a low nervous fever. 
Cornelia, her waiting-woman, says that she has 
not been without fever for six months ; but I 
wish you to see her immediately, and oh ! for the 
love of heaven, restore to me my child.’’ 

will most assuredly do all I can for her. 
Poor Nora must have been very badly treated, 
and most unhappy, to sink into the state you 
have described, as such a condition usually 
follows a long and tedious attack of fever.” 

Mrs. Eussell went softly into Nora’s room and 
found her awake, and somewhat rested from 
the fatigue of her journey. Doctor Mott has 
arrived, my child, and wishes to see you. Have 
you any objection ? ” 

None, mamma, none in the least. Indeed it 
would be a pleasure to look upon his kindly, 
familiar face again. But it is of no use, mamma, 
for you to hug the delusion to your breast that 
he or any other doctor can save me.” 

The mother sadly thought so too, as, a little 
later, the doctor took his departure without 


172 UNDER THE WILLOWS. 

giving her a particle of hope. He left his young 
patient quietly sleeping, under the influence of a 
mild narcotic he had administered. While Nora 
slept, her unhappy mother in the next room was 
listening to some of the horrible tales of what her 
young daughter had to endure at Castle Clyde. 

You see. Miss Helen,’’ said Cornelia, I tink 
Miss Nora’s health began to fail ’bout de time of 
your marriage. Hat’s ’bout de time de ^yearl’ 
filled de ole Castle wid sich awful company from 
London. Hey used to make de night hidgeous — 
men and women wid dere low, drunken songs, 
an’ dancin’ an’ yellin’ ; an’ at sich times Miss 
Nora would lock herself in her own apartments, 
an’ shiver de night fro like one in an ague. At 
first I begged an’ prayed wid her to pick up an’ 
leave de Castle an’ come back to Yirginny. At 
such times she’d shake her head sadly, an’ say, 
^No, Cornelia, I can’t go back to Yirginny!’ 
Hen I pleaded wid her to write you de trufe, an’ 
told her if she did’nt I would do it myself. Miss 
Nora very quietly told me to tend to my own 
’fairs. So I said nuffin more to her ’bout it ; but 


TJJ^-DER THE WILLOWS. 


173 


I watched her growin’ paler and thinner each day. 
A few days afore I writ you dat letter to come or 
send for Miss Nora, somethin’ happened dat made 
me ’termined to write to you widout lettin’ Miss 
Nora know it. I overheard Lord Montford an’ 
his ole mother, de Dowager Countess, as Miss 
Nora calls her, forming a plan by which to rob 
Miss Nora ob her jewels, so he, de Yearl, could 
turn dem into money. Dey fought dey was 
werry sharp, but I tell you, I, Comely Hammond, 
got ahead ob em. I made ’em drink de drugged 
tea dey had fixed for Miss Nora, an’ while de 
Yearl an’ de Dowager slept soundly from de 
drug, as Miss Nora did from fever and exhaus- 
tion, I gathered up all Miss Nora’s jewels, scatter- 
in’ de empty cases ’roun’ her dressin’ room floor, 
to make believe like she had been robbed ; an’ 
Miss Nora herself taut dat sich was de fact ’till 
after we got on de ship to come home. 

When I raised de alarm dat Miss Nora’s jew- 
els was gone, the Yearl turned werry white an’ 
looked at me keenlike, but if he ’spected anyting 
he kept it to himself. You see, Miss Helen, he 


174 UNDER THE WILLOWS. 

was shrewd ’nuff to know if he ’spected anyting, 
it would nebber do to ’cuse me, for I had him an’ 
de ole Dowager, as Miss Nora calls her, in my 
power; an’ if he’d said anyting to me ’bout de 
jewels. I’d had de Yearl an’ his mudder hung 
higher nor a kite, for you see I oberheard dem 
plottin’. 

But, as I said, de Yearl went to London, an’ 
fearin’ dese two debbils would be tempted to 
take Miss Nora’s life, I wrote you de letter I did. 
De Yearl remained in London two or free weeks, 
den returned to de Castle ; but he only staid free 
days, an’ left agin’ without even seein’ or speak- 
in’ to Miss Nora. I hab no doubt in de world if 
de Yearl had been at de Castle when Dr. Peyton 
’rived, but what he’d a tried to prevent Miss Nora 
from leavin’ ; an’ I shouldent be s’prised if he 
comes in search of his wife at once,” said Cor- 
nelia, with a frightened look. 

hardly think Lord Montford will present 
himself here, after his shameless conduct. He 
will surely not have the impudence to come to 
Beechlands and confront me, after submitting my 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 175 

child to SO much humiliation and degradation. 
And now, Cornelia, let me thank you for your 
watchful care of your young mistress, and for 
your forethought and kindness in letting me 
know her exact condition ; for she, in all her 
pride, would have died at that wretched, old 
castle, without ever letting me know of her 
anguish.’’ 

Here Nancy came to the door and said : Miss 
Nora is awake and asked for you. Miss Helen.” 

Mrs. Russell arose with a saddened heart and 
went into her daughter’s room. 

Please take the lamps out. Mamma. The 
moon is shining brightly, and it is so much more 
pleasant in the room without them. I feel much 
stronger now since my nap, and wish to talk with 
you. Close the door, so that none of the servants 
can interrupt us.” 

When the lamps were removed, and the door 
closed and locked, Nora said : “ Come near me, 
mamma, and let me hold your hand in mine.” 

Mrs. Russell drew her chair up near the bed- 
side and sought for the little thin hand of her 
11 


176 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


child. After a few moments’ silence, Nora finally 
asked in a very calm voice : Mamma, where is 
Hugh Moreland ? ” 

H'his question, coming from the lips it did, was 
like a dagger’s thrust to the mother’s heart, as 
she answered : Doctor Moreland was in Paris 
the last I heard from him, and his name is be- 
coming great. He and Doctor Peyton are warm 
friends.** Did you not hear him speak of him 
during the voyage ? ” 

^^No, mamma, I had but little conversation 
with Dr. Peyton during the voyage, therefore did 
not learn that he was Dr. Moreland’s friend.” 

There was no sign of agitation in Nora’s voice : 

And where is Lulu ? ” 

That I can not tell you, my child.” 

Mamma, after Lord Montford and I left 
Beechlands, did any of you find a ruby ring set 
in the form of a cross ? The Earl lost such a 
ring and thought he must have lost it here.” 

The mother’s blood seemed to turn to ice in 
her veins, as she thought of the ruby ring that 
poor Lulu Moreland had found upon the library 
floor. She thought of the name Lulu was known 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


177 


by at St. Josephus: that of ^^Mrs Erlwin.’' — Lord 
Montford’s baptismal name being Erlwin. She 
had never been able to banish from her vision 
the expression of the violet eyes of Lulu’s b^by, 
that had looked up into her own when she called 
at Saint -Joseph’s. This mother also thought of 
the story poor Lulu wished to tell her, and to 
which, in her own cold pride, sl^e would not 
listen. Lulu had said she never meaht to do 
wrong, but that she believed herself a wife. A 
cold, death-like dew came out upon Mrs. Kussell’s 
pale face, and Nora asked : What makes your 
hands so cold, mamma ? How cool and pleasant 
it feels to my own feverish one.” 

^^It is nothing, my child,” answered her 
mother, as another shiver passed over her frame. 

But something was the matter. Mrs. Bussell 
had put all these circumstances together in her 
mind, and her heart was a consuming fire in her 
breast. Lulu had thought herself a wife, and, 
if she were, what was her own daughter, lying 
there so pale and drooping, like frail snow-drop 
kissed by the blighting breath of frost? Mrs. 
Bussell felt satisfied that Lord Montford had 


178 


TINDER THE WILLOWS. 


cursed and blighted the lives of both Lulu and 
Nora, and the thundering voice of conscience, 
which would never be hushed, asked her whose 
fault it was that Nora, her child, should have 
become a prey to his wicked wiles ? 

To the proud spirit of a woman like Mrs. 
Kussell, there could have befallen no greater 
humiliation, or more bitter reproach, or severer 
punishment, than came to her heart then and 
there. 

With a mighty effort, she steadied her voice to 
speak calmly, and evading the young sufferer’s 
question, said : No, my daughter, I did not find 
such a ring as you describe, neither did any of 
the servants. If so, they would have mentioned 
the fact to me.” 

The mother arose from her knees and went to 
the open window, hoping that the fresh night air 
might quell the throbbings of her tortured heart. 
She found no rest, and her daughter’s voice 
recalled her to the bedside. 

Mamma, I would like to see Captain Eussell, 
the father of your boy. You can bring the lights 
back ; they will not disturb me.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


179 


The mother did so ; then dispatched Nancy to 
summon Captain Eussell, who soon came quietly 
into the room. Nora was wonderfully pleased 
with the expression of his frank countenance, 
and reached forth her hand to welcome him. 

Captain Kussell was a man some forty-five 
years of age, with dark brown hair, truthful blue 
eyes, and a complexion bronzed by the sea 
breeze. Before he left her room, Nora said: 

Captain Russell, I do not wonder that mamma 
loves you; there is such a kindly, benevolent 
expression shining over your face.” 

The kind sailor bent over the bedside of the 
sufferer as he said: ^^Nora, I am old enough to 
be your father, and my heart has had many a 
painful throb for you, since I heard the sad and 
faithful story of your life from your mother and 
the mother of my boy.” 

Nora understood what he meant, and took the 
delicate hint, and said very softly, ‘‘Father, do 
not reproach mamma ; she thoughi it was all for 
the best. And now you and mamma may leave 
me for the night to the care of Cornelia.” 


180 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Ten days glided by, and it was still the month 
of August, and there was no perceptible change 
in Nora for the better. Again it is evening, and 
mother and daughter are alone. They had been 
talking long and earnestly. The mother had 
been trying to make her child believe that her 
bodily health in a measure would be restored 
when the autumn and winter approached, even if 
she did not fully regain her former cheerfulness. 

No, mamma, that will never be. But I have 
three requests to make of you : the first is, that 
if Lord Montford comes to Beechlands you will 
not let him look upon my face. My second 
request is, that when I am dead you will place 
this ring upon my finger,” and she took the 
betrothal ring that Hugh Moreland had given 
her, from a slender gold chain that she wore 
around her neck. You know, mamma, I never 
had the opportunity of returning it, and I will 
take it with me to the grave. My very last 
request is, that you bury me by the statue of the 
water-nymph, where we plighted our troth, and 
where the earliest violets bloom.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


181 


Then, in a low, sweet voice, she repeated those 
lines bv Felicia Hemans, 

t/ 7 

“Willow! in thy breezy moan, 

I can hear a deeper tone ; 

Through thy leaves come whispering low, 

Faint, sweet sounds of long ago. 

Willow, sighing willow I 

Many a mournful tale of old 
Heartsick love to thee hath told. 

Gathering from thy golden bough 
Leaves to cool his burning brow. 

Willow, sighing willow! 

Many a swan-like song to thee 
Hath been sung, thou gentle tree! 

Many a lute its last lament 

Down thy moonlight stream hath sent. 

Willow, sighing willow! 

Therefore, wave and munnur on! 

Sigh for sweet atfections gone. 

And for tutieful voices fled. 

And for love, whose heart hath bled. 

Ever Willow! Willow!” 

Now, Mamma, retire to your rest, and leave 
me alone with mammy Nance.’’ 

When the mother looked upon the face of her 
child again, that young face was cold, white and 
still. 

The second day after, they made for her a little 
grave under the willows, and the young form that 
had suffered so much was hidden from sight. 


182 


UNDER THE WILLOWS 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


THE FOOTSTEP BY THE GRAVE. 

“If the morning of life has a mantle of gray 
Its moon will be blither and brighter; 

If March has its storms, there is sunshine in May, 
And light out of darkness is lighter; 

Thus the present is pleasant, a cheerful to-day, 

With a wiser, a soberer gladuess, 

Because it is tinged with the mellowing ray 
Of a yesterday’s sunset of sadness.” 


— Martin F. Tupper. 


“ So passing silent through a myrtle grove, 

Beauty first led him to the bower of Love, 

A mellow light through the dim covert stray’d 
And opening roses canopied the shade, 

Why does the* hurrying pulse unbidden leap? 

Behold, in yonder glade the Nymph asleep ; 

The heart-struck Minstrel hangs, with ling’ring gaze, 

O’er every charm his eye impassion’d strayed.” — Bowles. 


^TIE August sun had just disappeared in the 



^ west like a great round ball of fire, leav- 
ing a rich crimson glow in its wake, while the 
shadows were fast gathering in the east. At 
this hour, Mrs. Kussell had come out from the 
house to the grave of Nora. This unfortunate 
and most wretched mother could find no rest 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


183 


within the walls of her stately mansion: not 
even the presence of her husband, or that of her 
babe, whom she so fondly idolized, could bring 
balm to her tortured heart. She could not 
school herself to realize the great and terrible 
bereavement that had come to her. She had 
loved her daughter very much, and the thought 
of her own terrible sin was ever in her mind. 
She felt herself in a measure her daughter’s 
murderess, and this whispering of conscience but 
added to the bitterness and anguish she now felt 
herself compelled to endure. Oh ! had I but 
given her to Hugh,” the voice of conscience 
would say, ^^my Nora might now be living, and 
happy. Oh, God, pity me ! I must have indeed 
been mad, Avhen I acted the cruel part I did in 
putting them asunder. If I was not mad then, 
I feel that I soon shall be, if relief does not come 
to my soul.” ^ 

Mothers, when you plan and manoeuvre to 
make brilliant matches for your daughters, do 
you ever pause and think of the untold wretched- 
ness to follow a cold and loveless marriage ? No, 


184 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


you surely do not. If you did, you would train 
the mind of your daughters to look forward to 
something more exalted than position and gold. 
Then, in after life, you would be saved many a 
heart-pang. It must be the bitterness of death 
to you, a mother, to see your once gay, light- 
hearted, happy daughter, grow pale and heavy- 
eyed under the cold and cruel neglect of an 
indifferent husband. But the world, the cold and 
heartless world, that has but little symj)athy for 
you and yours, looked on, and said your daugh- 
ter had done well ; that her marriage was a 
grand and brilliant one. Alas ! it was a marriage 
without love. The cares and responsibilities that 
come to the wife and mother are many, and at 
times very trying. Then how can she brave 
them if she does not love, and is not loved in 
return? The human heart craves love. We are 
God’s children, and God is love.” It is just as 
natural for the human heart to crave love, and 
just as essential that it should have it, as it is for 
the rain-drops and the summer sunshine to each 
in turn kiss the young plants, and bring forth the 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


185 


little buds, and, later on, the sweet, fragrant, 
full-blown flowers. Oh ! mothers, teach your 
daughters to marry for love, pure and God-like 
love, where position and gold are not considered. 
Yea ! and your sons, too. In a true union of 
hearts as well as hands, there is no such thing 
needed as a divorce court. Where there is true 
love, there you will find true happiness in plenty. 
A man that loves his wife, and is loved by her, 
will not think of seeking the wine cup, or the 
gaming table, where many a fortune has been 
lost, that has caused little children to cry for 
bread. He spends his earnings, be they little or 
much, in making his home happy for his children, 
and his companion, who loves him, is always 
watching for him with a tender, happy smile. 
Where there is no love, what kind of homes do 
we find? Wretchedness, squalor and poverty: 
everything wears a look of neglect and desola- 
tion. In such homes, it is said, that even Bruno, 
the watch-dog, will hide his head from the smil- 
ing face of heaven, and the friendly, domestic 
house-cat will not purr. 


186 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


But we need not draw this dark picture of a 
loveless marriage too vividly. 

Mrs. Russell’s remorse is one case of a mother’s 
suffering and anguish for her foolish pride and 
ambition. And this evening, as she sits by the 
new-made grave, she feels that her punishment is 
more than she can bear, and she would give 
worlds, if they were hers, if she could live her 
life over, and have Nora back again, just as she 
was when she and Hugh Moreland stood upon 
this very spot and plighted their troth a little 
over three years ago. Mrs. Russell thinks of the 
letter Hugh had written her from New York 
after returning from San Francisco, and which 
had been forwarded to her at Boston. Oh, 
Hugh, Hugh, your words have come home to 
me ; oh ! what does not my poor, tortured heart 
suffer ! ” 

She fell upon her knees and laid her white 
troubled face upon the newly made grass, and oh, 
joy! tears partly relieved that terrible weight 
at her heart. Blessed, soothing tears, that fall 
from our eyes in hours of trouble, like refreshing 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


187 


dewdrops from heaven. She remained in this 
attitude for a long time, then she heard the sound 
of a footstep by the grave. She slowly lifted her 
head, expecting to see her husband, hut saw 
instead a white troubled face, that caused her 
heart to stand still for a moment. Her breath 
came quick and short, as she at length articu- 
lated in a hoarse voice: ^^Hugh Moreland, for 
the love of heaven what sent you to this spot 
and at this hour ? ” 

She felt as though she was standing before her 
Judge. Moreland gave her no answer. He 
looked pale, wearied and travel-stained. He had 
reached Kichmond but an hour before, had 
started for Beechlands without meeting with *a 
single friend, and the first knowledge he received 
of his love’s death was when he came upon the 
little grave, and saw the name Nora in ever- 
greens entwined with flowers, lying upon the 
little fresh mound of earth, and the agonized 
mother bending over it. Doctor Moreland, this 
great man of science, knelt at that little grave 
also, and his manly tears fell like rain-drops. 


188 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


Mrs. Eussell remained mute and stricken on 
beholding his great grief. 

At length he arose from his knees, and going 
around to the mother’s side and taking her hand 
in his, he said: ^‘Mrs. Eussell, here at Nora’s 
grave, let us forget the past. Let us forget that 
she ever belonged to another, and only remem- 
ber that her heart was mine. I can see by your 
suffering face that you are sorry for the course 
you pursued. It will not be for long. Nora and 
I will meet again. I felt very, very bitter 
toward you, until I saw this little grave. Since 
then, my feelings have undergone a great change. 
When was this grave made ? ” 

^^We buried Nora at three o’clock this after- 
noon,” the wretched mother said, with a fresh 
burst of grief, for Hugh’^s forgiving tones pierced 
her heart more deej)ly than reproaches could 
have done. 

^^And I was so near seeing that loved form 
once again,” brokenly murmured Hugh. 

Darkness was now stealing over the earth, 
relieved only by the glimmering stars, and the 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


189 


great resplendent dew-drops were kissing the 
thirsty leaves upon the boughs, that sighed a 
requiem over Nora’s grave, as they were gently 
stirred by the night winds. 

^^You had better return to the house, out of 
the night air,” said Doctor Moreland, kindly. 

Will you not go with me and at least spend 
the night with us ? ” 

I thank you, Mrs. Russell, but I shall spend 
this night at ^ Holly Cottage,’ and return to 
Richmond early to-morrow morning. I must 
hasten back to Paris without delay. I have a 
sad and sacred mission to fulfill before I leave 
the earth, and you, Mrs. Russell, can form some 
idea as to what it is. It is to find my sister, and 
her son, and then her betrayer.” 

His voice was very sad and plaintive, when 
speaking of Lulu, but it was more sad and plain- 
tive still, as he said: ^^Nora is mine now: it is 
no sin for me to love her, as her sweet, pure, 
young spirit loves me. Now, as a reparation for 
the past, and the only one I will ask of you, 
and the only one you can make, is to give me 


190 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


this little spot of earth that holds the cold, still 
chamber of the soul, that looks down upon us 
to-night. Will you, cousin Helen ? ” 

Yes, I will give you this little grave.’' Some- 
how a strange, happy peace crept into her heart. 
What was it ? Who can tell ? Yea, who can 
tell ? Thoughts, minds and hearts are strange 
things. 

Also a new and happy joy filled Hugh More- 
land’s soul, as once again he took his cousin’s 
hand and pressed it to his lips, as in the olden 
days, and again he murmured : God bless you, 
cousin Helen.” 

What could have prompted Hugh Moreland to 
utter the next words he did, to this woman who 
had been so cruel to him and his love, years ago. 
They were : Now, cousin Helen, if you could 
have Nora back again, and there was no Earl of 
Montford to come between us, would you give 
her to me ?” 

The answer came from a sore and wounded 
heart: Yes, Hugh Moreland, though an hundred 
earls, or even kings aspired to her hand, it should 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


191 


go with her heart, even though you had but one 
coat. But merciful heaven ! why ask, when that 
is impossible?’’ 

“I know not what prompted me to ask the 
question, cousin Helen, but somehow it has taken 
a great pain from my heart. Now, good-by, I 
must be going, but I will come again to this little 
grave,” said Hugh, sadly, as he turned, went to 
where he had left his horse standing and mount- 
ing him he rode on to Holly Cottage — the little 
four-roomed, ivy-clad cottage, with its out-kitchen, 
where he and his sister had spent so many happy 
hours together. 

He found it clean and airy. His only servant, 
aunt Didy, who was staying at Beechlands during 
his absence, had kept the cottage in perfect 
order, just as though her young master was at 
home. There was no one in it that night but 
himself. With kind and humane forethought, he 
first went to the stable and cared for the horse 
that he had ridden from the city ; he then 
entered his cottage. Oh! how many, many 
bitter days he had experienced since he slept 
12 


192 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


beneath its humble roof. Could he sleep to- 
night? No, no! 

As he paced the length of the floor, hour after 
hour, a strange, wild longing came over him — a 
yearning desire that he could not resist — though 
he tried to banish it from his thoughts. With 
every effort he made to fight off this desire, it 
grew stronger upon him. He looked at his 
watch; it was nearly one o’clock. Then follow- 
ing the inclination of his thoughts, he went out 
into a little shed back of the cottage and made 
search for something that was soon found. After 
this, he took the path leading from Holly Cottage 
in the direction of Beechlands ; but avoiding the 
mansion, went down by the crystal stream, to 
that little fresh mound of earth which now of 
right belonged to him. He knelt by the little 
grave and the temptation grew stronger. 

The moon was just rising; he threw off his 
coat and hat, and then listened. All was as still 
as death, save nature. He carefully removed the 
flowers and evergreens from that little fresh spot 
of earth, took up the shovel he had brought with 


TINDER THE WILLOWS. 


193 


him from the cottage, and set to work to remove 
the loose earth. 

What was he doing? He was determined to 
look upon the cold, pale face of his love, before he 
left his home. This was the temptation that had 
grown upon him, which he could not resist. He 
must look upon that face and hold that dear 
form in his arms once more. She was his — she 
and this little grave belonged to him; for God, 
himself, had given her to him. 

At last the earth was all removed, and with 
strong arms he took the rosewood coffin from the 
box and lifted it to the surface where the moon- 
beams played through the boughs. Then, taking 
a screw-driver, with which he had provided him- 
self, proceeded to remove the lid. This done, he 
gazed down upon the face of snow — the most 
beautiful face the earth ever held for him. He 
lifted the still lovely, dark head and kissed the 
rigid lips. He took the small form with its white 
drapery and hugged it to his bosom, as a mother 
caresses her beautiful babe. 

He wore a small diamond pin in his shirt-front 


194 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


— a Christmas present from his love four years 
ago, and over. In pressing this still form to him, 
a sharp edge of one of the gems punctured the 
white cheek, and as he gazed down upon it, he 
saw a small drop of blood. His heart stood 
still. He sank down with that dear form in his 
arms, as weak as a delicate child ; but it was only 
for a moment however. Then this feeling of 
faintness left him. He tenderly laid his treasure 
down in the cool grass, moistened by the night- 
dews, hastened to the crystal stream, in which he 
bathed his pocket-handkerchief, and, returning, 
gently wiped that red spot away. But another 
came in its place. He then wiped the whole 
white face and neck with the cooling handker- 
chief, and the little ruby drops came faster and 
faster. 

An hour later, Hugh Moreland restored the 
coffin to the grave and placed the earth back just 
as he had found it, rearranging the evergreens 
and flowers also. Next morning, when Mrs. 
Bussell and her husband visited this quiet little 
grave, it had no appearance of having been in 
the least disturbed. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


195 


CHAPTER XIX. 

THE TWO FACES. 

And for the remnant which may he to come, 

I am content; and for the past I feel 
Not thankless, — for within the crowded sum 
Of struggles, happiness at times would steal, 

And for the present, I would not benumb 
My feelings farther.— Nor shall I conceal 
That with all this I still can look around, 

And worship Nature with a thought profound. 

For thee, my own sweet sister, in thy heart 
I know myself secure, as thou in mine ; 

We were and are — I am, even as thou art — 

Beings who ne’er each other can resign; 

It is the same, together or apart. 

From life’s commencement to its slow decline 
We are entwined, — let death come slow or fast, 

The tie which bound the first endures the last. — Bykois'. 

D E. PEYTON remained in Richmond only 
long enough to call upon a few of his poor 
patients ; to ascertain through Dr. Mott, how 
others were getting along, and also to increase by 
a few thousands the already large sum he had 
set apart from his fortune, for the exclusive 
benefit of the poor. This accomplished, he again 
turned his face towards Europe. 


196 UNDER THE WILLOWS, 

Often in the pale moonlight, when he paced 
tlie deck of the ocean steamer, his thoughts 
would turn back to Virginia ; to the dark, pale, 
beautiful face of the young Countess of Montford, 
for whose sake he had for a time given up what 
had now become the one hope of his life, that of 
finding his beautiful waif. He hoped his friend 
Moreland would have some good news for him, 
when they again met in Paris. 

Thus his second voyage was made from New 
York to Havre, with his thoughts principally 
divided between the two young beings who had 
suffered so much, Lulu and Nora.’’ On reach- 
ing Paris, Peyton repaired at once to the hotel, 
where he expected to meet his friend ; and he 
was greatly astonished to learn that Moreland 
had returned to America, and that no message 
had been left for himself. After conquering his 
disappointment as well as he cordd, Beverly Pey- 
ton come to the conclusion that his friend must 
have made a discovery, or obtained some clue, 
and had gone to the United States to impart it to 
him, and by his hasty departure from Bichmond 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 197 

he must have missed him. Acting on this sup- 
position he wrote his friend a long letter that 
night, directing it to Kichmond, Virginia. 

Months passed, September to December, and as 
yet he had no word from Moreland ; had received 
no answer to the many letters he had written to 
him during these many months. 

On Christmas eve, when he came in from the 
streets and entered his room, he was happily sur- 
prised to find Moreland there, with a sweet, 
patient, melancholy look upon his handsome face. 
Their meeting was like that of two brothers after 
a long separation. Of course Peyton had a 
thousand questions to ask as to what took his 
friend to America, and many other things. To 
many of his questions Hugh gave direct answer. 
He told the story of his absorbing love for Nora, 
their separation and of her marriage with another ; 
and of his reaching Beechlands upon the evening 
of her burial, and of the great sorrow that had 
come to him, when he come upon that new 
made grave so unexpectedly, where reposed the 
remains of his loved one. 


198 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


While telling the story of his love, and the sad, 
sad fate of the dark, beautiful Countess, there 
was an expression shining from his blue eyes that 
Peyton could not exactly understand ; and while 
trying to read this expression, for the first time 
since he had made Moreland’s acquaintance, a 
strange, delightful thought entered his mind. He 
felt that he could not be mistaken. He looked at 
the brownish, golden hair, the deep, solemn, blue 
eyes, and the luxuriant tawny beard, sweeping his 
breast, that in the sunlight caught deeper tints of 
gold. 

Arising from his chair, Beverly Peyton went to 
Hugh’s side and, laying his hand upon his 
shoulder, said, while he looked into his eyes, 
Moreland, I am deepily pained to learn of your 
great troubles, and you have my sincere sympa- 
thies, but I think I have made a most happy 
discovery.” 

What ? ” said Moreland, considerably excited, 
^^have you found a clue to your golden - haired 
waif ? ” 

^^No! not exactly that,” said Beverly, ^^butl 
have had the pleasure of meeting her brother.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


199 


What do you mean ? ’’ asked Moreland, 
slightly flushing. 

Simply this, my friend. You are that noble 
brother of Lulu’s of whom Dr. Mott told me 
in Richmond. Why have you kept this knowl- 
edge from me during our months and years of 
intercourse ?” 

An age seemed to Peyton to have passed, ere 
Moreland replied. ‘^Yes! Peyton, you are right 
in your surmise. I am Lulu’s brother, and have 
thought it would be time enough to proclaim the 
relationship when she was found. My friend, you 
can never know what it has cost me to sit and 
listen to your stories of her, and her wrongs, and 
that of her child. From this date I also will 
enter upon the search for her with a new inter- 
est.” Taking Peyton’s hand, he shook it warmly, 
saying : You possess a true nobility of soul, 

my friend, and your love for my sister, and your 
faith in her purity, fill my heart with unspeaka- 
ble joy. It rekindles the hope that we will find 
her, and that she will prove as pure as the snow- 
drop in spring, that battles with the cold, bleak 
and frosty winds., to come forth with a few warm 


200 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


rays of sunshine, all unconscious of what it 
heralds forth to those who look upon its pure, 
sweet, modest face. Henceforth, my friend, we 
will work together and in earnest.’’ 

He began to pace the room hurriedly. Beverly 
Peyton was a good reader of human nature ; and, 
as he watched his friend’s countenance, he could 
see something had been kept back, something 
Moreland kept to himself, and something of a 
pleasant and joyous character. Of that, he felt 
assured. 

While they talked the night had nearly worn 
away, and the first bright tints of the awakening 
Christmas morning were beginning to steal over 
the great city of Paris. 

Peyton,” said Hugh, ^‘1 shall leave Paris 
to-morrow for Borne; I wish to visit a great 
American artist there to have some work exe- 
cuted. I am going to have a life-size portrait 
of Nora, painted from a picture I have in my 
possession, for a present to her mother, who, I 
know, will now prize it very highly. I also have 
another reason for going to Borne, but it is not 
necessary to speak of it now.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


201 


Taking a small velvet case from his inner coat- 
pocket he handed it to his friend, who opened it, 
and his face became very pale as he gazed 
intently into the fair, sweet face, framed in with 
golden hair, which he could never forget. On the 
opposite side was a dark face of wondrous beauty, 
and in looking upon the two faces Peyton com- 
pared them to the morning and evening of spring ; 
one like a fair sweet lily of a temperate clime, 
and the other like some rare exotic blooming 
amid the tropics. With a sigh he closed the case, 
and returned it to his friend, asking as he did so, 
How long will you remain in Rome ? ” 

That,” answered Moreland thoughtfully, de- 
pends entirely upon circumstances.” And he 
dropped his eyes to the floor, while a blush 
mantled his hitherto pale brow. 

All this Peyton took in at a single glance, but 
said nothing. At the time appointed Moreland 
took his departure for Rome, with the under- 
standing if either one made a discovery in 
regard to Lulu, he would communicate with the 
other at once. 


202 


UNDER THE WILLOWS 


CHAPTEK XX. 


THE ARTIST. 


O thou who, seated by the golden wave 
Of classic Tiber, stol’st the prismy hues 
From the rich landscape that Italia gave, — 

Claude ! whose celestial genius could transfuse 
Heaven’s beauty into earth’s, and both combine 
In those undying paintings only thine ; 

Could’ St thou have traveled to our western sky, 

And near’d the setting sun, whose vesture spreads 
Its gold and purple, blent harmoniously; 

When Autumn chills the foliage, and shades 
O’er the piled leaves among the evergreens, 

All colors and all tints to grace the scene ; 

Thou would’st have shown that there are other climes 
Besides Ausonia’s where the heart may gush 
With overwhelming fullness, and at times 

Feel the deep influence of bland nature’s hush, 
When Evening steals in blushes to her West, 

And clouds are in their marriage garments drest. 


— Dawes, 



HEN Moreland reached Eome, lie lost no 


time in seeking the great and highly- 


gifted American artiste, whose fame had extend- 
ed all over Europe, and who was not wholly 
unknown in the United States ; and those of my 
readers who are lovers of art will readily under- 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


203 


stand that she possessed gifts of no inferior order, 
when she was noticed and praised by Americans. 

For, we Americans, as a general rule, have 
little appreciation for art ; at least, we show but 
little interest in artists from our native shores, 
until Europe first sings her praises ; then, for a 
time, we take up the tune, and become animated. 
But we are so active and so busy that we have 
little time to bestow upon such things ; and now, 
just here, we, as a free, proud nation, commit a 
grievous error. There is genius, there is talent 
in America to equal that of any land, if we will 
but encourage and sujDport it. This we fail to do, 
and all our brightest and best talent is necessarily 
compelled to seek a field of operation in some 
part of the Old World. This should not be. 
We, in our own land, should hold out such 
inducements to those endowed with the finer 
gifts, that they would fiock to our shores, instead 
of our best talent being driven abroad. 

Almost within the shadows of Saint Peter’s, in 
an elegant little palace of a home, lived this 
American artiste. It is morning, and the win- 


204 UNDER THE WILLOWS. 

dows of her studio are open, and the fragrance of 
rare, sweet flowers, steals into this room, fitted up 
with such exquisite, yet simple elegance. Among 
all the rare pictures that adorned this room, the 
artiste herself was the strangest, rarest, grandest. 
It was a difficult thing to guess correctly at her 
age. She might have been twenty, or she might 
have been thirty years old. In height she was 
not above the ordinary stature of woman, but 
was very graceful, with hair as black as night, in 
great contrast to the large, thoughtful, blue eyes, 
and clear, transparent complexion. Her cheeks 
and lips were touched with a delicate tinge of 
carmine, touched with the brush of nature. Her 
loose, elegant artist’s dress hung in graceful folds 
around her form. Its sable hues threw out all 
the graceful curves of that form to perfection. 

All unconscious of her own exquisite loveli- 
ness, she throws herself into the depths of an 
easy chair, burying her sw^eet, sad face in her 
hands. It is evident that a mighty sorrow of 
some kind dwells within the heart of this woman. 
A patron had just left her, an English nobleman. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


205 


We have met him before. It was Lord Montford. 
He had had his first sitting. While he was in 
her presence this woman had been like marble, 
but when he was gone, her fortitude for a time 
gave way, and she submitted to the tempest that 
swept over her soul, but she was not permitted to 
indulge in feelings of this kind for any length of 
time. Her attendant soon came to her, saying. 
Doctor Moreland is in the reception-room, mad- 
am, and would see Mrs. Melville.” 

The young American arose as if she had re- 
ceived her death warrant, and said, Keturn, 
Margueretta, and inform the visitor that I am at 
present engaged, but will see him at three o’clock 
this afternoon. Do you understand, Margueretta, 
three this afternoon ? ” 

Yes ! my dear lady, I understand, and will 
deliver your message accordingly.” 

When left to herself, Mrs. Melville sank upon 
her knees, and a piteous wail came forth from 
her tortured soul. Oh ! I could have prayed 
heaven to be spared this meeting, but it must 
take place. Of course I belong to the public, in 


206 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


a certain sense, and I must try to school myself 
to meet all demands that come upon me.’' 

All day long, she was unable to do any thing. 
When the clock struck the hour of three, she 
arose from the divan, where she had been recli- 
ning for some time, to meet her visitor, praying in 
her heart that he would not come. Just then, 
Margueretta was at her door to announce the 
arrival of the visitor of the morning ; and the 
artiste’s heart beat strangely, and her eyes 
glowed with a light, half -sad, half -joyous, as 
she entered the reception-room. Doctor More- 
land was sitting by the window, with the rays 
playing upon his hair. 

Doctor Moreland, I believe,” said the artiste, 
in a low, steady voice. 

Hugh had not expected her to join him so 
soon, and, being pre-occupied in deep thought, 
had not heard her enter. The low, sweet voice 
startled him a little, and rising hastily, he shot 
a keen, searching glance into the face of the 
speaker, who dropped her eyes to the floor in 
rather an embarrassed manner. Hugh saw at 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


2or 


once that she had noticed his searching gaze, and 
hastened to say, beg your pardon, Mrs. Mel- 
ville, if I have seemed rude, but you will please 
to remember it is a trait of we Americans to 
observe closely those whom we first meet, as 
there is a great deal in first impressions, you 
know.” 

This put the artiste at her ease at once ; but 
she had little conversation for anything save 
business ; and Doctor Moreland came at once to 
the point of his errand. He drew forth the vel- 
vet case, r .a handing it to her, said, Mrs. Mel- 
ville, I wish you to do your best on these two 
faces.” 

A shadow gathered over the artiste’s face, as 
she slowly opened the case and looked within. 

^^Are these the faces of your sisters. Doctor 
Moreland ? ” 

With a mighty effort he answered, This one, 
with the golden hair, is my sister, the other is 
the face of one who is a very dear friend of mine, 
the young Countess of Montford, who was buried 
in Virginia last August.” 

13 


208 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Mrs. Melville went to the window where Doctor 
Moreland was sitting at the time she entered the 
room, and through which the Italian afternoon 
sun was streaming. Its rays were no more allu- 
ring, and the sky above did not wear a more 
beautiful tint of blue than it does in our own 
land. 

She slightly lowered the heavy silken curtain, 
and, by this little act, a soft, crimson glow per- 
vaded the apartment, which in a great measure 
concealed the deep emotion that seemed to agitate 
her form. 

‘^1 think. Dr. Moreland, I can do these faces 
justice, but I have so much work engaged ahead 
that it will be impossible for me to promise you 
the portraits before the first of April. In the 
meantime, you are at liberty to call in now and 
then, if you are in this city, and see how the 
work progresses.’’ 

After having settled upon the price for the two 
life-size portraits, Moreland arose and took his 
leave. 

When he reached the street he said to himself, 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 209 

No, no ! I am disappointed again. It is not my 
sister Lulu, but there is something about this 
American woman that fills my being with a 
strange, sweet thrill, whenever I look into those 
wonderful eyes of hers. Then Lulu has pale, 
tawny, golden hair, while this strange, lovely 
being has hair, brows and eye-lashes black as 
night.” Again starting, he said, But Mrs. 
Melville is an artist,” and thought, will go 
often to see you, Mrs. Melville, and to see how 
you get on with your work. But I will now to 
the office, and see if any letters have arrived for 
me.” 

That afternoon Doctor Moreland’s heart was 
made glad by the receipt of two letters, one from 
Peyton, and one post-marked New York, which 
had been sent to Paris, but which Peyton for- 
warded to the Eternal City. 


210 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


CHAPTER XXI. 

THE earl’s visit. 

Thou blind man’s mark; thou fool’s self-chosen snare, 

Fond fancy’s scum, and dregs of scattered thoughts; , 

Band of all evils; cradle of causeless care; 

Thou web of ill, whose end is never wrought; 

Desire ! Desire ! I have too dearly bought 
With price of mangled mind thy worthless ware, 

Too long, too long, asleep thou hast me brought, 

Who should my mind to higher things prepare. — Sidney. 

O, my good lord, the world is but a word ; 

Were it all yours, to give it in a breath. 

How quickly were it gone. — Shakespeake. 

I T was August when Nora was laid under the 
willows.” In September, Captain Kussell 
prevailed upon his wife to take a trip north, as 
far as New York and Boston. His kindly heart 
suggested this as a diversion from the great 
bereavement that overshadowed the remorseful 
mother’s soul. After reaching New York, Cap- 
tain Kussell suggested the propriety of his wife 
securing a companion, to which she readily 
consented. Not that she expected from the 
conpanionship of any one to forget that little 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


211 


grave in Virginia, and the terrible part she had 
taken in having it made. She consented chiefly 
to please her husband, whose kind heart had 
suggested it. 

One morning, in reading the newspaper. Cap- 
tain Eussell discovered an advertisement, which 
he thought would please his wife. He said : 

Listen, Helen, and see if this is not what we 
desire. — ^ A young and friendless woman is desir- 
ous of obtaining a situation as companion to a 
lady going South, or will engage to teach small 
children. Address Friendless, at the office of this 
paper.' — How will that do, my darling ? " 

^^You can answer that," answered his wife, 
with a weary sigh. It may be that the compan- 
ionship of one that is friendless will be beneficial 
to me in more respects than one. A few years 
ago, and such an advertisement would not have 
touched my heart; now, the very manner in 
which this one is signed, awakens a new feeling 
in my breast. Friendless! 0, how sad. Some 
such kindred feelings must have dwelt within 
the heart of my Nora, during the years she lived 


212 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


and suffered at Castle Clyde; and if we secure 
this being, who signs herself thus, I will endeavor 
to make her forget that she is such, for in so 
doing I would feel that Nora approved.” 

The advertisement was answered at once, and 
in the forenoon of the next day, Friendless ” 
called at the hotel and was shown at once into 
Mrs. Eussell’s parlor. 

Friendless,” whose name proved to be Eose 
Cleveland, possessed a small delicate form, clad 
in a plain suit of black silk, black hat and veil, 
with a narrow crape collar at her throat. She 
looked fully thirty years of age, if not more. 
Her hair had once been black, and was still very 
luxuriant, soft and glossy, but it was profusely 
sprinkled with gray. There were traces of suffer- 
ing about the eyes and lines of care about the 
mouth. The face was colorless. Her voice was 
low and musical. 

After receiving her visitor, Mrs. Eussell asked : 
^^Are you a widow?” 

No, madam.” 

^^For whom are you in mourning?” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


213 


She had no thought of being merely inquisi- 
tive. She was pleased with the applicant, and it 
was natural she should ask the question. 

‘^1 am mourning for my ^ mother Miss 
Cleveland said, very quietly. 

In a short time all was settled. Miss Cleve- 
land was to be the companion and to enter upon 
her new duties that afternoon. 

Three days later found them all in Boston, 
where they spent some weeks before returning 
to Virginia. Miss Cleveland conceived a sweet 
affection for the boy, little Hugh Kussell, which 
was very flattering and gratifying to his mother’s 
wounded heart. As the days wore on, the 
companion almost constituted herself the little 
fellow’s nurse altogether. He would hold out 
his hands to go to her more readily than to go to 
Nancy. 

One evening, while they were still in Boston, 
Mrs. Russell sat caressing her child with a great 
flow of tenderness, forgetful of Miss Cleveland’s 
presence, who looked on with a pathetic sadness 
on her face, while in her heart she thought, ^^Oh, 


214 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


tliat mothers would love all their children thus ! ’’ 
After a while she asked: ^^Mrs. Kussell^ did you 
ever have a daughter?’' 

^ On this question, the happy look that had been 
brought there by the innocent smiles of her babe 
left the mother’s face, and softly she answered : 
‘^Yes, Miss Cleveland, I once had a daughter; 
but she lies buried far away in Virginia, buried 
near my home, and her grave is the last spot 
I visit before retiring at night and the first on 
arising in the morning.” 

Miss Cleveland was touched at the pathos in 
this mother’s voice, but continued: ^^Did your 
daughter die young ? ” 

She was nineteen years old on the day she 
died.” 

Miss Cleveland pitied that suffering face, and 
never again asked about that dead child. 

Mrs. Kussell, with all she held dear on earth, 
was back at Beechlands again, and Time, the 
comforter, in a measure soothing the mother’s 
heart. Time does not ask us to forget our loved 
ones, but bears on his wings a healing balm to 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


215 


our hearts. Time may bring old age, gray hairs 
and wrinkles, but with each turn of his glass, 
also brings us that much nearer to the loved 
ones, who have crossed over the dark river 
before us. 

It is true Mrs. Eussell was a greatly changed 
woman from what she was a few years ago, when 
she planned to separate poor Nora and Hugh 
Moreland, and, as we may say, compelled her 
child to give her hand, without her heart, in 
marriage. Since then the bitterness of ten thou- 
sand deaths had come to her. Now, though the 
first keen edge of her grief was becoming blunted, 
she was not yet purified, had not yet had her 
share of earthly suffering and trials. 

It is a soft, hazy afternoon in the first part 
of November, autumn in Virginia, and what a 
picture for a lover of nature to gaze upon 
and admire. The clear, crystal stream flows 
gently, the leaves are brown and sear, and fall 
around the form of a woman, clad in sable 
garments, with a face as white as snow. She 
is seated by Nora’s grave, and a young child 


216 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


vainly endeavors to win her to exchange caresses. 
Rose Cleveland’s sweet, sad face bends over the 
playful child, as she passionately kisses its fair, 
infantine face. Tears roll down her cheeks, fall- 
ing upon little Hugh’s face, as with great, wonder- 
ing eyes he looks up into hers, as much as to say. 
Miss Cleveland, why do you shed tears over me, 
at Nora’s grave ? ” 

That is the way in which she interprets his 
wondering look, and again she folds him to her 
heart, saying, Oh, Hugh, Hugh ! you blessed 
one, you shall look into my eyes just for once,” 
— then taking a careful survey in every direction, 
and seeing no one, she removed the glasses, which 
she had worn constantly, and looked smilingly 
into the face of the child, who smiled on her 
in return, as he gazed. Miss Cleveland was 
so interested that she did not observe that 
the glasses had fallen from her lap on the 
dead willow leaves at her feet: did not know 
the length of time that had elapsed since she 
removed them from her eyes. When she lifted 
her head again, it was to se^ Captain Russell 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 217 

standing a few paces from her. His honest face 
was as white as death, his lips were drawn over 
his even, white teeth, and his kind, blue eyes 
seemed set in their sockets. All this Miss Cleve- 
land saw at a glance, and, lowering her head, 
made further search for the glasses, which she at 
length found and replaced over those wondrous, 
mysterious eyes, which, once seen, could never 
be forgotten. 

Captain Russell mastered his emotion suffi- 
ciently to approach, saying, in a voice of pro- 
found astonishment, ^^Miss Cleveland, your love 
for that child has betrayed you. I know you; 
the expression of those eyes I could never forget. 
In the name of Heaven, explain this mystery to 
me. Say why it is that you are here in the 
capacity of companion to my wife ? This is 
beyond my comprehension.” 

She lifted her right hand, and in a voice of the 
deepest supplication, said, in low, quivering tones, 
Captain Russell, for the love you bear your wife, 
and this beautiful boy ; for the love that you have 
for your mother s memory, and, above all, the love 


218 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


you bear the Saviour of the world, do not betray 
me. For God’s sake, do not betray me.” 

Pressing the child close to her heart, she fell 
upon her knees at its father’s feet, and, in tones 
of the deepest anguish, earnestly jDrayed him to 
guard her secret. While in this attitude, she 
explained to him how and why she was there. 

He laid his hand gently upon the stricken 
one’s head, saying, as he did so, Have no fears. 
Your secret shall be as safe, and kept as sacred 
with me as if it lay buried in this mound at our 
feet, where Nora was laid a few months ago.” 

She thanked him, in a choking voice, as she 
arose to her feet ; and, taking his hand, showered 
tears and kisses of gratitude upon it. Here little 
Hugh held out his hands to go to his father, who 
took him, and started, with slow, thoughtful steps 
for the house, leaving Miss Cleveland alone. 

He had left her but a short time, when she 
was aroused from a painful revery, into which 
she had fallen, by hearing a step at her side. 
She turned, and saw a rather handsome man, 
with uncovered head, looking down at the grave. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


219 


With some agitation and embarrassment, she put 
her hand to her brcjw, and arose. 

I beg ten thousand pardons/' the intruder 
said, ^^but will you tell me who sleeps in this 
grave ? " 

His eyes rested upon the lady’s face. The 
voice that answered was cold and stern. That 
little grave was made for the Countess of Mont- 
ford, the wife, I believe, of a fiend in human 
shape; but — ” and here she checked herself — 
you can gain all the information you desire at 
the mansion yonder. Mrs. Russell, mother of the 
unhappy young Countess, can best answer you.” 

The gentleman bowed coldly, and, replacing 
his hat, passed on in the direction of the house. 
A few moments later, a servant carried. Lord 
Montford’s card to his mistress, who was in the 
sitting-room, beside her husband, fondly caress- 
ing her child. She had noticed the unusual 
pallor upon her husband’s face, and had ques- 
tioned him, whether he was not ill. His answer 
was that he had never felt better. When Lord 
Montford was announced, the wife saw the pallor 
deepen upon her husband’s face. 


220 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


What shall I do, Captain Eussell ? How can 
I meet this man ? ” 

You must meet him, my Helen. Summon all 
your fortitude, and let him frighten you into 
nothing. I will leave the room, but shall not be 
out of hearing.'^ 

The Earhs reception was somewhat different 
from the first one, and so his Lordship thought, 
as he was ushered into the sitting-room. Mrs. 
Russell, quietly seated near a table, bowed coldly 
at his entrance; without rising to her feet, she 
said ; 

Be seated, sir ! 

The Earl was somewhat taken aback at this, 
and also astonished at the change that had come 
over this woman since their last meeting. In a 
bland and conciliating tone he said : You were 

expecting me, were you not, my dear Mrs. 
Russell ? ” 

Indeed, I was not, sir ! Nothing could bring 
me more surprise, than does this visit from you.’' 

But I wrote you that I was coming, madam ! ” 

That may be true,” answered the lady, coldly. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


221 


but all communications from Lord Montford and 
those from his attorneys, are invariably consigned 
to the flames unopened.” 

This is not very flattering, I must say, to an 
English Earl.” 

When an English Earl can so far forget his 
position, as to put himself on an equality with 
the low and degraded, he is no better than his 
associates.” 

Indeed ! Madam ! Who has been so kind as 
to mention my associates to you ? ” 

‘^Not she, whose little grave you helped to 
make,” answered the mother, brokenly, From 
the day of her arrival at home, until the day of 
her death, she told me nothing in regard to your 
treatment of her, nor of the way in which she 
was persecuted by your mother. The only bitter- 
ness she manifested towards you, was the prayer 
that I would not let you look upon her face. 
After your maltreatment of her, and your unsuc- 
cessful attempt to rob her of her jewels, a plan in 
which you were thwarted by her black servant, 
why have you come to me, that unhappy child’s 


222 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


motherj to revive in my heart all the bitterness 
of the past ?” 

If you had not been so kind, Mrs. Russell, as 
to burn all communications from me and my 
attorneys, you would have been spared this visit. 
Now that I am here, obnoxious as my presence 
seems to you, I will tell you why I come. Re- 
ceiving no communication from you in regard to 
my wife’s property, I present myself in person.” 

^^Pray, sir; what interest have you in the 
property left my daughter ? ” 

I think I should have some interest,” said the 
Earl, very composedly. 

Learn that you have none. A few days 
before Nora’s death she made a will in favor of 
her little brother, giving him everything save the 
jewels, which she returned to me.” 

^^Then she did not lose her jewels, as she 
pretended to have done ? ” 

She made no pretences. It was Cornelia’s 
shrewdness that saved these valuable heirlooms 
from falling into your hands. Her young mis- 
tress knew not but what the jewels had really 
been stolen until long after she left Castle Clyde.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


223 


At this piece of information Lord Montford’s 
countenance changed perceptibly, and his eyes 
burned with a baffled expression, as he said : 

The Countess of Montford made a will, did 
she ? Bequeathing her property to her little 
brother ? If I know anything of the laws of this 
country, the husband is entitled to a third of his 
wife’s estates, will or no will.” 

^‘You have already had that third, my lord, 
and it is all you will ever get. Half a million 
dollars is enough for any mother to pay for three 
years of cruelty to her child. I believe the law does 
give the husband a third of his wife’s property at 
her death, but the question is, are you Noras 
husband f ” 

He gave a low, nervous laugh, as he cried: 

Are you mad ? ” 

Not quite,” she answered, coldly. If Nora 
was your wife, what was Lulu ? Ah ! I see you 
grow pale. But let us not prolong this conversa- 
tion. I will give you five thousand dollars to take 
you out of the country, and never return again. 
Not for any kindly feeling that I have for you. Lord 
14 


224 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Montford, but one who can so far forget that he 
is a gentleman, might have such disrespect for the 
dead as to undertake to break her will. For the 
sake of my daughter, I would avoid giving pub- 
licity to this a:ffair. But in case you should see 
proper to enter suit in regard to it I will have to 
drag the name of Lulu Moreland before the pub- 
lic. It was she who found your ruby ring at 
Beechlands. The ring with which you married 
her under the name of Erlwin. My advice to 
you is, that you accept my offer. I will give you 
until to-morrow at noon to arrive at your decision, 
at which hour Captain Russell and myself will 
meet you in Richmond, at the office of my attor- 
neys. I agree to give you this sum, knowing 
that men of your character seldom have any 
honest means. Now I have pleasure in showing 
you to the door, sir ! to meet you promptly at 
noon to-morrow.” 

Thus dismissed there was no other alternative 
but for Lord Montford to depart, and his manner 
was not as assertive on leaving Mrs. Russell’s pres- 
ence, as it was upon entering. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


225 


It was now starlight. Miss Cleveland sat in the 
shadow of some evergreens near which he had to 
pass, and heard him mutter, The law will give 
me five hundred thousand dollars, while the 
mother of Nora insists I shall have nothing. 
What am I to do. I fear I am in that woman’s 
power, and will be compelled to take the paltry 
sum she offers.” 

These rambling words were heard by Miss 
Cleveland with a joy unspeakable. 

When he had passed beyond hearing, she went 
on into the house. In the hall she met aunt 
Hannah, who looked at her with bated breath, 
for a moment with great dilating eyes. She then 
rushed passed Miss Cleveland as fast as her two 
hundred and fifty pounds of flesh would allow 
her, nor did she slacken her space until her cabin 
was reached. 

Ben saw a gray ashen hue upon her face. 
^^What am de matter, ole ’oman ? ” 

Nothin’ very ticular, Mr. Bolls, only I finks 
dat de last days am near to hand. I has seen 
a sperrit, as sure as de world stans. I met it face 


226 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


to face as I passed trou de hall. So Ben, honey, 
keep your lamp trimmed, an’ with plenty ob ile, 
an’ be prepared to meet de bridegroom at a 
moment’s warnin’.” 

She rolled up the whites of her eyes in a way 
that was so impressive that Ben Bolls, her wor- 
shipped third, became somewhat alarmed. He 
thought of all the money he had spent in the past 
months, that of right belonged to his wife, and of 
the many other things in which he had deceived 
her, and his conscience reproached him, and in a 
low voice he asked : Whose sperrit did you see, 
Hannah ? ” And falling in a heap upon the floor 
the old woman said : Come near me, Ben, an’ 
let me whisper it to you. Sperrits hab moighty 
sharp ears.” 

When that name was whispered in Ben’s ear, 
his teeth chattered, and he quivered with fear. 

Next day Captain Bussell and his wife went 
into Richmond. When they returned, the lady 
possessed a document signed by Lord Montford, 
in which he relinquished all claims to any portion 
of his deceased wife’s estate. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


227 


CHAPTER XXII.’ 


ANOTHER VICTIM. 

“ For aught that ever I could read, 

Could ever hear by tale or history, 

The course of true love never did run smooth: 
But either it was different in blood, 

Or else misgraffed in respect of years; 

Or else it stood upon the choice of friends ; 

Or, if there were a sympathy in choice. 

War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it. 
Making it momentary as a sound. 

Swift as a shadow, short as many a dream; 
Brief as the lightning in the collied night. 

That in a spleen unfolds both heaven and earth, 
And ere a man hath power to say — Behold I 
The jaws of darkness do devour it up : 

So quick bright things come to confusion.” 


Shakespeabe. 


T was near the joyous Christmas time, and 



the earth was covered with glittering snow 
— the first snow that had fallen upon that lonely 
grave at Beechlands. All verdure was covered; 
this snow was its winding sheet, and the Decem- 
ber winds its funeral dirge. 

One morning, as Mrs. Russell was standing in 
her room, the windows of which overlooked Nora’s 


228 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


grave, she said to her husband : I am going to 
send Miss Cleveland away.” 

^^Why so, Helen?” he asked, in a tone of 
astonishment. I thought you were very much 
pleased with her, and little Hugh is perfectly 
devoted to her, as she is to him.” 

do not know that I can express in words 
my reason for wishing to part with her. There 
is something about her that causes me to feel 
very uncomfortable — something that at times 
reminds me of Nora. Then again arises a strange 
indescribable feeling as if Miss Cleveland was 
acting a part, and was not really what she repre- 
sents herself to be.” Taking her husband’s hand, 
she asked : Did you know this young lady 

before you married me ? ” 

The tone in which this question was asked, 
caused Captain Eussell to look down on that pale 
upturned face with a feeling of profound compas- 
sion, as he answered : No ! certainly not. I 
first met her at our hotel in New York, and knew 
not that such a being existed until you presented 
her. I am very sorry to hear that you contem- 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


229 


plate sending her adrift upon the world. She is 
friendless and to be pitied.” 

How do you know that she is utterly friend- 
less, Captain Russell?” coldly asked his wife. 

I gained this knowledge from her own lips, 
my Helen,” said the honest tar. 

Did she confide her history to you upon the 
day of Lord Montford’s visit, when she knelt at 
your feet, and kissed your hand at Nora’s grave ?” 
The black eyes of Mrs. Russell flashed fire, as she 
continued : It is very strange, if a previous 

acquaintance did not exist between you and her, 
that during her short residence beneath my roof, 
she should become so familiar as to kiss your 
hand and give you her confidence.” 

What do you mean in regard to Miss Cleve- 
land kissing my hand ? ” 

Simply this. On the afternoon of Lord 
Montford’s visit. Miss Cleveland took my son and 
went to Nora’s grave. Shortly afterwards, my 
thoughts inclined me to the same spot. When I 
drew near, without either of you seeing me, I saw 
Miss Cleveland kneeling at your feet — saw her 


230 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


kiss your hand in a supplicating manner — her 
whole attitude and the expression of her counte- 
nance expressed the deepest supplication. What 
her words were, I did not catch, but I heard your 
answer, which was: ^Your secret shall be held 
sacred, and guarded with as much care as though 
it lay buried in this little grave made for Nora, 
the young Countess of Montford, a few months 
ago.’ Now, Captain Russell, what is this secret 
of hers, that you are pledged to guard so strictly 
from me ? ” 

Russell saw that his wife was sorely grieved ; 
but he could give her no answer, and the usual 
calm of his kind face was stirred with feelings of 
regret, as he said : 

My dear wife, I would not willingly or know- 
ingly cause your heart a single pain. But there 
are some things that come up before us in this 
world that we can not explain, even to those we 
love most dearly. Such things are sometimes 
painful or unpleasant. So you have been hug- 
ging this little scene to your bosom for weeks, 
and making mountains out of mere mole hills ! I 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


231 


am more sorry for this than I can express. If 
Miss Cleveland or any body else chooses to make 
me a confidant, I can not prevent it; and if a 
promise be exacted to keep the secret, after 
giving good reasons for secrecy, I will respect 
that promise though the heavens fall and crush 
me.” 

Here he took several turns across the floor. 
This was the very first little unpleasantness that 
had arisen between this husband and wife, and 
going up to him, this woman, notwithstanding her 
pride and strength of will, threw her arms around 
her husband’s neck and said, in sweet subdued 
tones : 

Forgive me, my husband, but it almost 
drives me to the verge of despair if I think 
your heart gives one throb of sympathy to any 
one but myself. I am almost jealous of the 
great love you lavish upon our boy.” 

am sorry to hear you say so. This will 
make me very unhappy. Father than remain 
near you and give you unhappiness, I had better 
absent myself for a while ; but do not send Miss 


232 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


Cleveland away. In time you may know her 
story; then you will repent of any unpleasant 
feelings you may have entertained towards her.” 

^^For the love of heaven do not talk of leaving 
me, even for a single hour ; I can not live if you 
go. Only say that you will forgive me and Miss 
Cleveland shall remain, and I will never again 
speak of sending her away.” 

The speaker’s troubled face was wet with 
tears. The husband felt the deepest pity in 
his heart for her, and wished from his very soul 
that he was at liberty to tell her the exact 
truth. But he sacredly considered his promise, 
and, hastily releasing himself from his wife’s 
arms, he took up his hat from the table and 
left the room. 

With a kind of benumbed feeling, Mrs. Bussell 
left her room, and, crossing the hall, entered the 
back parlor. There she saw the cause of her 
present trouble, with her head resting in her 
hands, while sobs shook her form. For a moment 
Mrs. Bussell stood irresolute, then all the deeper, 
purer traits of her nature surged into her heart, 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


233 


and going np to the weeping figure, she laid her 
hands softly upon the bowed head, where the 
gleaming threads of silver were so plainly visible, 
and a strange, sweet thrill made her heart beat 
with short, quick throbs. The voice was won- 
drously sweet in its tones, that said : 

^^Miss Cleveland, you have probably heard 
what passed between my husband and myself, 
but I pray you that you will not let it trouble 
you.’’ 

Miss Cleveland did not lift her head, but 
reached and took the hand that had lain there 
so kindly a moment before, and reverentially 
pressed it to her lips. Two great tear drops fell 
upon that little hand of the jealous wife; and 
Nora’s mother drew back, and a whiteness as 
of death came over her face. 

In a low, husky voice she asked, In the name 
of Heaven, tell me truly, who are you?” 

The being thus addressed sprang to her feet, 
and could the other have seen the eyes beneath 
the glasses she wore, they would have burnt into 
her very soul. 


234 


UNDEE THE WILLOWS. 


Who am I ? Father in Heaven, who am I ? 
Madam, I am a poor, unfortunate being, doomed 
by my own mother to a life of misery and wretch- 
edness; a being who has to live in hiding to 
escape from a misery worse than death. I will 
not remain here to make you unhappy. I will 
go away and seek another asylum of refuge and 
trust in God, and trust to time to make all right 
for me.” 

Her voice had now lost all its hoarseness, and 
a touching pathos had taken its place. 

The elder lady felt her heart drawn toward 
this strange, friendless being, and said, Forgive 
me, and do not think of leaving the sheltering 
roof of Beechlands if you find any degree of 
safety within its walls,” 

At that moment Mrs. Russell expressed the 
true sentiment of her heart. 

Thank you, Mrs. Russell, but I have been 
thinking for some time it were best for me to 
leave Beechlands. I had better hide myself 
within the blessed walls of some convent. We 
may meet again, and when that day comes, I can 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 235 

tell you all. Never doubt your husband ; he is a 
noble man — ” and sinking her voice almost to a 
whisper, she added, above all things, never let 
your daughter’s wealth pass from your hands 
into the hands of the Earl of Montford.” 

“ What do you know of the Earl of Montford?” 
I know no good of him,” answered Miss 
Cleveland, in a strong, decided voice. 

Have you ever met Lord Montford ? ” 

^^Yes. I met him at your daughter’s grave 
the evening he presented himself here in Novem- 
ber; and my impressions of him were far from 
flattering.” 

^^Did you ever meet him previous to that after- 
noon? If so, for the love of Heaven, tell me 
when and where ? ” 

That I cannot.” 

^^Are you another of his victims?” 

God forever pity me, madam ! I am a most 
wretched, unhappy victim of Lord Montford.” 


236 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


CHAPTER XXIII. • 

A STARTLING DISCOVERT. 

“ Why, lovely charmer, tell me why, 

So very kind and yet feo shy ? 

Why does that cold, forbidding air 
Give damps of sorrow and despair ? 

Or why that smile my soul subdue, 

And kindle up my flames anew ? 

In vain you strive with all your art. 

By turns to fire and freeze my heart; 

When I behold a face so fair. 

So sweet a look, so soft an air. 

My ravished soul is charmed all o’er, 

I cannot love thee less or more.” — Anonymous. 


I T seemed as though everything in nature had 
contributed its share toward enhancing the 
beauties of this April morning. All the glories, 
all the brightness of the much -famed Italian 
splendors of blue sky and golden sunshine, smiled 
down upon the Eternal City, bathing its churches 
and domes, palaces and antiquities, in a halo of 
glory. 

On this bright morning, Mrs. Melville stepped 
back a few paces to gaze upon three faces, painted 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


237 


by her hands with her best skill. After look- 
ing at them for some time, she went to the 
window, and her hand trembled with a strange 
nervousness. She lowers one heavy curtain just 
a little, to throw a little more shadow upon the 
golden head of Lulu Moreland. The picture 
does not require this added shadow to make it 
more perfect ; but somehow the beautiful face 
looks as if the original had lived in shadows. 
On this lovely morning the Earl of Montford 
was to call for his portrait. The artist has 
placed these three pictures in a very strange 
position. First, Lord Montford, then Lulu More- 
land nearest to him, then Nora in all her dark 
glowing beauty of happy girlhood. What a 
contrast. 

The artist’s eye glows for a moment, and a 
strange wild expression comes over her rare and 
exquisite face, as she gazes upon Lord Mont- 
ford’ s portrait, and a shiver creeps through her 
veins, as the parted lips murmur : The guilty 

and the innocent ! I will watch his countenance 
closely when he calls this morning. The living 


238 


UNDEE THE WILLOWS. 


must and shall have justice ; the dead you can 
trouble no more.” 

She had barely time to control her feelings, 
and school herself to a cold proud firmness, when 
Margueretta opened the door and announced 
Lord Montford. 

He had called to settle for his portrait, and also 
to ask the hand of the American artist in mar- 
riage. He believed that she was wealthy, and 
being foiled in his expectations of frightening 
Nora’s fortune out of Mrs. Russell, he feels that 
he must again marry — for money. Aside from 
the artist’s wealth, he was really charmed with 
her. 

On this morning, Mrs. Melville has given him 
more time for conversation than at any other 
time since he has been calling on her, and he 
feels that he must secure her before that paltry 
sum of those five thousand dollars, which Mrs. 
Russell gave him, had melted away. Ere he had 
been at the artist’s home a half hour, he asked 
her to be his wife. 

She sat like one petrified for some moments 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 239 

after this declaration of love and offer of mar- 
riage. She said : You know not what you ask, 

my lord. I have a husband living. I never told 
you in words or by my actions, that I was a widow, 
and this offer of marriage coming from you fills 
me with astonishment, indeed! Although my 
husband and I do not live together, nor ever will 
do so, you can see how utterly useless it is for 
you to think of a marriage with me.” Arising, 
she coldly said, Follow me and I will show you 
your portrait. Also two others that I think you 
will have to acknowledge are well executed, as I 
believe you will recognize both of them.” 

Throwing open the door leading into the ele- 
gant studio, Mrs. Melville watched this man’s 
countenance with a keen and searching interest. 
When his gaze rested upon the two faces near his 
own his eyes dilated, and the mouth, that Nora 
Hammond had termed weak and womanish, 
quivered perceptibly. No sound came from his 
paralyzed tongue. His face was as white as 
death. His limbs trembled under him with weak- 
ness and fear. 

15 


240 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


He staggered back a step and grasped a chair 
to keep himself from falling. For a moment the 
artist thought he was going to faint, and with a 
feeling of the most intense pity in her heart, 
hastened to a table and poured out a glass of 
wine and held it to his lips. 

He drank it mechanically, and sank down upon 
the divan. All this time his eyes were never 
removed from the fair sweet face of Lulu More- 
land. When the wine had aroused the cold blood 
in his veins, he asked, in a low, hoarse voice, 
Who is that sweet vision with the heavenly blue 
eyes, and hair of spun gold ? And calmly she 
asked; ^^Do you not know, Lord Montford, 
‘ Charles Erl win ? ’ ” 

As this name left her lips, the Earl sprang to 
his feet, and grasped the pale, trembling woman’s 
shoulder with a grip of iron, as he brokenly 
asked : Woman ! who are you ? ” 

''Who am I? Why! I am Mrs. Melville, an 
intimate and bosom friend of the woman whose 
portrait has such power to move you. Lord Mont- 
ford. Would you not like to hear her history? 


U^^DER THE WILLOWS. 


241 


It is a sad and painful one. Eemain where you 
are and I will tell it to you.” Then folding her 
arms, she stood calmly before this cowering man, 
and proceeded. 

I know all that poor unfortunate girl’s trials 
from the moment you first met her here in Koine, 
to the time she threw herself upon the bosom of 
the James river to hide her supposed humiliation 
and shame. You know she thought she was your 
wife. You went through a form of marriage with 
her, under your Christian name of Charles Erl- 
win. You married this girl, or as we will say, led 
her to believe you married her, keeping your 
true name and rank concealed from her. You 
also compelled this motherless young girl of six- 
teen summers to secrecy, and but two persons in 
Kome besides yourself had any knowledge of this 
marriage, or as you would probably term it, a sup- 
posed marriage. For six months you lived with 
her as your wife. Then you grew tired of her, 
and proceeded to seek another victim. A few 
months later you found one in Virginia. You 
married Miss Hammond, one of the wealthiest 


242 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


heiresses in that State ; and when poor Lulu More- 
land, heart-broken, finding that she might become 
a mother, turned her face towards her native 
land, and reached it upon the very day on which 
you and your wealthy bride left it. At Beech- 
lands, poor Lulu was met with scorn ; but there 
in the library, almost at the very feet of Mrs. 
Hammond, she found her wedding ring, that you 
had taken from her finger while she slept, in this 
city. The regaining of this ring repaid Lulu, in 
a measure, for some things that she had endured.’' 

All unobserved to either Mrs. Melville or Lord 
Montford, a visitor had been shown into the 
reception room, and as the communicating door 
was ajar, he could distinctly hear every word that 
was uttered in the studio. His face was as white 
as if the hand of death had set its seal upon it. 
He sat incapable of motion, but not of thought 
and hearing. 

^^Now, Lord Montford,” the lady continued, 

comes the most singular part of that young 
girl’s story.” And now there was a touch of 
sarcasm in her voice : — 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


243 


Since my residence of over two years in this 
city, I have been brought in contact with a great 
many very strange characters. Eighteen months 
ago, on visiting the charity hospital, I found a poor 
wretch in a dying condition. There was some- 
thing about this man that drew me to him with a 
strange interest, and I remained with him through 
one whole night. His countenance showed that 
he had been a wild, bad man ; and in the watches 
of the night, I at length prevailed upon the good 
Sister to seek the rest she so much needed, and 
when she was gone, he beckoned me to the bed- 
side, and made a strange revelation. There, in 
the lonely watches of the night, with the shadows 
of death gathering thickly around him, he told 
me that he was an Englishman, nobly born, whose 
parents had died, leaving him and a twin brother 
to the guardianship of strangers. In after years 
his brother took Holy Orders, while he became a 
prey to the viler passions of the human race. 
One day a boon companion came to him, asking 
him to personate a Holy Priest of the church, 
and perform a mock marriage. He consented. 


244 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS, 


but as the time of the performance of this mar- 
riage drew near, he could not forget the teachings 
of his sainted mother. He was not all bad, and 
with an overburdened soul he went to his brother 
and confessed what he had promised to do for his 
friend. When the time for performing that cere- 
mony came, it was the true man of God that 
pronounced Charles Erlwin and Lulu Moreland, 
man and wife. So my lord, that is the actual 
face of my friend, the wronged Countess of Mont- 
ford ; and that dark beautiful girl beside her is 
your victim.’^ 

We cannot say what the Earl’s thoughts were 
at this revelation, for ere he had time to make 
any comment, a man sprang into the room, with 
eyes flashing fires of vengeance. He sprang 
upon the Earl and hurled him to the floor as if he 
had been a straw, while his hand sought the 
throat of his victim, whose face was rapidly 
becoming purple. 

Mrs. Melville sprang forward, and with a 
mighty effort tried to unclasp Moreland’s fast 
fingers. Her effort was of no avail , and in a 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


245 


ringing voice she said : Doctor Moreland, oh ! 
God, — Hugh, my brother, for the love of heaven 
spare this wretch’s life. He is the father of my 
child, and is not fit to die. Spare him for the 
sake of the love that won my girlish heart, and 
do not let your noble soul be stained with his 
cowardly blood.” 

Hugh’s passion had not made him entirely dead 
to the sense of hearing ; there was something in 
the ring of the voice that addressed him, that 
made him relinquish his grip upon his victim’s 
throat. He looked up into the artiste’s face and 
said : My God, you are my sister Lulu. But 

why this strange metamorphosis ? ” 

There is no change, brother, save in the hair, 
eyebrows and lashes. A few washings in soda 
will restore the original tints again.” 

Moreland arose from his prostrate victim ; and 
going to the artiste’s side, he gathered her into 
his arms, saying : Thank God ! I have found 

you. I heard all that passed between you and 
that prostrate wretch grovelling there upon the 
floor,” 


246 UNDER THE WILLOWS. 

By this time Lord Montford had arisen to his 
feet, and as his eyes lingered upon the face of his 
true wife, the only woman he had really cared 
for, he glided from the studio with a baffled 
expression upon his face, but feeling within his 
heart that his punishment was just. After he 
was gone, Lulu and Hugh sat down side by side, 
and while she held his hand within her own, she 
told him all that had transpired since their part- 
ing, years ago, in Virginia. When all was told she 
rang a bell for Margueretta, who soon made her 
appearance, to whom she said : Bring in little 

Van. Oh ! Hugh, you must see my noble boy, 
my little Vandyke. You see I am in hopes of his 
being a great painter. I usually call him Van; 
and in the many times that you have called at my 
home I have so yearned for you to look upon his 
face, but I dared not. It would have betrayed 


me. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


247 


CHAPTER XXIY. 

SPARE THOSE BEAUTIFUL WILLOWS. 

In the hour of my distress, 

When temptations me oppress, 

And when I my sins confess. 

Sweet Spirit, comfort me I 

When I lie within my bed. 

Sick at heart, and sick in head, 

And with doubts discomforted. 

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!” 

— Robert Herrick. 

M ISS CLEVELAND had left Beechlands, and 
all around was sadness and gloom. Little 
Hugh Russell grieved for his kind, gentle nurse, 
and his mother missed her soft footstep^ in the 
hall. Captain Russsell had been loth to see her 
depart, and begged of her to remain; but she 
gently said: ^^It is better, under the circumstan- 
ces, that I should leave — better for the peace 
and happiness of your wife, and perhaps your 
own.’' 

A few days after this departure from Beech- 
lands, Mrs. Russell and her husband were standing 


248 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


near Nora’s grave, and as the leafless willow 
boughs were tossed by the January wind over 
their heads, she said : 

am going to have all these willows cut 
down. They are omens of sorrow to me : beneath 
their shade Nora was wont to play in childhood 
and gather the first sweet violets and snowdrops 
of spring. It was here her heart first awakened 
to its great love for Hugh Moreland, and here she 
plighted her hand to Lord Montford ; and it was 
here, a few years later, she wished to be buried. 
I will see that they are all cut down. All the 
greatest sorrows of my life have had something 
in connection with these willows, and they have 
become distasteful to me. If a branch sweeps 
my cheeks, it makes me shiver.” 

Eussell turned and took the hand of his wife, 
saying : No, no, Helen, do not take their lives. 
No sorrow, my darling, has come to you that you 
in a measure have not brought upon yourself.” 

^Ms that intended for a reproach?” she asked, 
mournfully. 

He was deeply touched by the tones of her 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


249 


voice, and answered : Heaven forbid that I 

should reproach you; but you should not lay 
your sorrows to those trees. I love them, and 
our boy, like his poor sister, has a passion for 
them. They look ghostly and bare now; but 
how fresh they will be when the warm breath of 
spring comes again, and brings into life all their 
verdure and sweetness. Spare them one more 
season, Helen, and see if your luck does not 
change.’’ 

Oh ! if you love them,” she answered, they 
shall be spared, if by so doing everything is taken 
from me but you.” 

The following March, a mighty flood swept 
over the valley of the James. The little merry 
crystal stream that partially encircled Beech- 
lands, became within itself a flood of destruction. 
The beautiful bridge was swept away, and when 
the flood subsided, not a trace of it remained. 
The angry, turbulent waves dashed up to the 
very threshold of the mansion. Such a phenom- 
enon had never been witnessed in the valley 
before, not even by the oldest inhabitants. 


250 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


When the first great force of the flood had 
disappeared, the lonely little grave under the 
willows was almost obliterated, and Mrs. Eussell 
declared her intention of having Nora’s remains 
removed and interred on a higher elevation above 
the reach of future floods, and somewhat to the 
right of the dwelling-house. 

At this declaration. Captain Kussell’s counte- 
nance changed perceptibly, but he could only 
ask : My darling, when do you intend to have 

this done ? ” 

To-morrow, if possible ; that is if you will be 
so kind as to go into Kichmond to-morrow morn- 
ing and bring Doctor Mott out with you, as I wish 
to have him present while we are removing the 
dead.” 

So the next morning. Captain Eussell drove 
into the city. By eleven o’clock, Jerry returned 
accompanied by Doctor Mott, and informed his 
mistress that Captain Russell had taken the ten 
o’clock train for the North. The lady’s face 
became as white as death when Jerry informed 
her of this movement of her husband’s. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


251 


Is there no letter — no message of any kind 
for me ? ’’ 

^^No, mistress. He sent none. He never even 
informed me of his intention of leaving the city, 
and it was by the merest accident I saw him on 
the train as it rolled out from the depot. When 
we reached the city, he got out of the carriage at 
the Capitol, telling me to find Doctor Mott and 
bring him out to Beechlands. On reaching the 
Doctor’s office, I learned that he was at the depot 
attending to one of the employes on the road, 
who had had his hand terribly crushed while 
coupling cars or something of the kind; and by 
the time I reached the depot the North bound 
train was just moving out, and I saw Captain 
Kussell standing upon the platform.” 

Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! ” was the wail 
of Mrs. Bussell’s heart. Must I endure this 
affliction too ? Deserted ! and where is Miss 
Cleveland ? ” 

J’rom the depths of her soul, with all she had 
suffered she felt that this was the most bitter 
hour of her life ; but with a great heroism and 


252 UNDEE THE WILLOWS. 

firmness of purpose, in the afternoon of the 
same day, she proceeded to carry her plans into 
execution, and by three o’clock Mr. Hammond’s 
remains were laid in a new grave upon the 
green, sunny knoll — all that was left of him 
after remaining in mother earth over eighteen 
years. A smaller grave was made near his for 
his daughter, the once bright Nora, who at the 
time of her father’s death was but an infant in 
arms. A little after three o’clock, Jerry^ came to 
his mistress with a scared solemn look upon his 
face. 

What has happened, to give you that strange, 
unearthly look ? ” 

The man paused before answering his mistress’ 
question. Drawing a long breath, he answered : 

Mistress, a very strange thing indeed has hap- 
pened. We have unearthed Miss Nora’s coffin, 
and found it in a good state of preservation ; but 
there was not a screw in the lid, and when we 
went to lift it out of the grave the lid came off ; 
and Miss Helen, before God in heaven, although 
Miss Nora was only buried last August, there is 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 253 

not a single trace of her or of her garments in 
that coffin.” 

The hearer’s face blanched to the whiteness of 
snow, and sinking into a chair she gasped for 
breath. 

When Jerry saw the death-like look upon her 
face, he went out at once to call Doctor Mott to 
her assistance. 

When the old physician entered his friend’s 
presence, he found her in a state of almost over- 
whelming excitement, and his first act on behold- 
ing her condition was to administer a powerful 
narcotic. While under its soothing influence she 
talked very calmly of her child. Can it be pos- 
sible, Doctor Mott, that Hugh Moreland can know 
aught of the disappearance of Nora’s body?” 
Putting her hand to her head in a dazed way, 
she said : I remember now he exacted a prom- 
ise from me to give him that little grave to 
hold as his own exclusive property, and also the 
strange, glad light that beamed from his counte- 
nance when I consented. But Hugh is too hon- 
orable a man to rifle a grave of its dead ; and 


254 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


that grave held all he loved most sacredly on the 
earth. What am I to think ? What am I to do ? 
Where turn to find a solution to this saddest 
mystery ?” 

Dr. Mott, who was somewhat puzzled, at length 
said, as he saw his patient was more than half 
intoxicated with the narcotic he had given her, 
otherwise he would not have thought to make 
such a transparent explanation : I can account 
for the disappearance of your daughter’s body in 
but one way, and that is, that the waters of the 
flood may have washed the coffin out, and the 
gases within caused the lid to spring up, and the 
body may have floated off with the current ; and 
the water subsiding so soon after, the coffin may 
have sank back into the grave.” 

He rubbed his hands together, with a sem- 
blance of satisfaction, hoping that Mrs. Russell 
had accepted his explanation. All the time, too, 
he was thinking of the Medical College, and the 
many graves that are despoiled of their dead, 
that science may be benefited for the good of the 
human race ; and he shuddered at the thought 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 255 

of the student's knife doing its work upon the 
remains of the young Countess of Montford, a 
being he had known and loved from her birth ; 
and he felt that he must keep this harrow- 
ing suspicion from Mrs. Russell at all hazards. 
Therefore he tried to make her believe the body 
had been carried off by the flood ; but although 
the mother was very calm, her first words stag- 
gered him a little. 

Supposing such a thing could be possible, for 
the waters to raise the coffin from its resting- 
place, and open it in the manner in which you 
state, for the body to float out ? How can you 
account for the lid not going with it ? I cannot 
understand that. Jerry tells me the lid was in its 
proper place, although it was not screwed down. 
My daughter’s body never got out of that coffin 
without the aid of human hands ; and if not the 
work of Hugh Moreland, it must have been that 
of Lord Montford.” 

Why should he want to disturb her grave ? ” 
asked the physician, in a perplexed tone. He 
did not visit Beechlands for several months after 
Nora’s death.” 


16 


256 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


^^That is all very true/’ she said^ ^^but he 
might have had some one do the work for him, 
on the night after she was buried, so as to secure 
the jewels upon her body. I am sure that grave 
has not been disturbed since the day it was made 
until now, unless it was disturbed that night.” 

It might have been done during your absence 
in the North.” 

‘^Not so. Doctor Mott. Jerry tended the 
flowers upon it every day during my absence ; 
and if it had been disturbed he would have 
known it, and told me of it long ere this.” 

‘^But,” he said, thoughtfully, ^^if the grave 
was opened for robbery, the person or persons 
would have taken only the jewels. So, you see, 
my dear madam, there is a mystery here that it 
may take time to explain.” He seemed to be 
laboring under some excitement. ^^But I will 
hasten back to the city, and try to hit upon some 
plan to unravel this mystery. Where is Captain 
Bussell, that he is not with you in this trying 
hour of affliction ? ” 

With a deep moan she hid her face in her 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


257 


hands. Her husband had been called away on 
sudden business, she answered, in a tone of 
anguish. 

Before leaving Beechlands, Doctor Mott admin- 
istered another narcotic, and ere the sun sank in 
the west, he left this bereaved, agonized woman 
sleeping, all unconscious of her great afflictions. 
They placed the little, empty coffln in the grave 
made to receive it, on the green, sunny knoll. 
When Jerry informed Nancy of the empty coffln, 
her face became very pale. She went into her 
mistress’ room, where she slept, hugging the 
little Hugh to her warm, motherly bosom. 

When Aunt Hannah heard the story of the 
empty coffln, she fell upon her knees in her 
cabin, and gave vent to her pent-up anguish in 
prayer, with Ben near her ; while Cornelia paced 
the floor in pent-up wrath, exclaiming : 

^^Dis all comes ob dat debbil-lord coinin’ to 
Beechlands wid his Yearlin’ airs. Ob course Miss 
Nora could not rest in her grave wid him near 
her. I shoulden’t myself; an’ de Yearl nebber 
done me half de harm he did her. It’s my ’pinion 


258 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


when he passed her grave she jist ris right out oh 
it. I has felt for some time dat she was a walk- 
in’ de yarth at large, which ob course she does to 
’mind Miss Helen ob her great wickedness in 
makin’ her marry de Yearl, when she loved 
Massa Hugh Moreland so much. But de Lord 
hab mercy on us; what am de world a cornin’ 
to, anyhow? Husbands ’sertin’ dere wifes, an’ 
de graves a givin’ up dere dead ; an’ de little 
branches becomin’ great seas. I don’t un’erstan’ 
it; de more I bodders and thinks, de more my 
mind is deplexed, an’ expressed wid de sayin’s ob 
dese great frenologists, an’ scient j)hysic men. 
De one say we mus’ freely give to dose dat ax, 
an’ de udder to repent ob our sins, for de king- 
dom ob hebben is at ban’ ; an’ now I tell you, 
mammy, suthin’ strange is a gwyne to happen. 
I feels it in my bones.” 

So saying, Cornelia, too, sank upon her knees 
by the side of Aunt Hannah, while in the old 
stone house the mother of Nora slept on. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS 


259 


CHAPTER XXY, 


THE DISASTER 


** Not many rays of heaven’s unfallen sun 

Reach the dull distance of this world o" ours, 

Nor oft dispel its shadows cold and dun, 

Nor oft with glory tint its faded flowers ; 

But, oh, if ever yet there wandered one, 

Like Peri from her amaranthine bowers, 

Or ministering angel, sent to bless, 

’Twas to thy hearth, domestic happiness, 

Where in the sunshine of a peaceful home 
Loye’s choicest roses bud, and burst, and bloom. 
And bleeding hearts, lull’d in a holy calm, 

Bathe their deep wounds in Gilead’s healing balm.” 


— Martin F. Tupper. 


“Welcome, life! the spirit strives! 
Strength returns and hope revives: 
Cloudy fears and shapes forlorn 
Fly like shadows at the morn, — 
O’er the earth there comes a bloom; 
Sunny light for sullen gloom, 

Warm perfume for vapor cold, — 

I smell the rose above the mould ! ” 


— Thomas Hood. 



UGH MORELAND lost no time in writing 


JLJ- to his friend Peyton after the discov- 
eries he had made. He did not enter into anj- 
particulars. He merely wrote : — Come to Rome 
at once. I have news for you.” 


260 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


When the letter reached Paris, Peyton was in 
Rouen ; and it was nearly three weeks from the 
time Moreland wrote until he received a telegram 
from his friend, sent from Florence, saying that 
he would be with him in a few hours. So, when 
steam-force carried Peyton to the ancient city, the 
train had hardly ceased its motion, when he felt 
his hand grasped warmly by Moreland, who saw 
at a glance that Peyton’s face was overshadowed 
with a look of troubled anxiety, and he kindly 
asked : What has happened, my friend ? I 

hope you have had no bad news from Virginia ? ” 
No, I have had no bad news from Virginia, 
but I was thinking of the beautiful Countess of 
Montford, whom I took to her home last summer, 
and who died so soon after reaching it.” 

^^Why were you thinking of her, Peyton?” 
Moreland asked, in a troubled voice. 

I suppose you have seen the latest despatches 
of that terrible collision in the English Channel, 
between Calais and Dover, and of the loss of over 
two hundred human lives, and among the lost is 
the young Earl of Montford ? ” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


261 


Hugh held his breath for some time, as a 
peculiar expression passed over his countenance. 
At the same time he murmured : God is good, 
God is just; blessed be His holy name. Yea, He 
avenges the wrongs of the innocent, overtaking 
the guilty when they least expect it.’’ 

A sweet, happy smile played over his features, 
lie thought of his beautiful and highly-gifted 
sister, and her bright, innocent boy, now father- 
less, indeed. He also thought of another, of her 
who had been laid away beneath the willows the 
August before, far beyond the blue, rolling billows 
of the deep. 

Strange as it may seem, at the announcement 
of Lord Montford’s death, a thought for the first 
time occurred to his mind : if his sister Lulu was 
Lord Montford’s wife, what had been the proud, 
dark, beautiful girl he had loved with the pure, 
warm devotion of the first and only love ? For a 
moment, Hugh’s heart stood still, and his face 
became so pale and rigid, that Peyton suddenly 
asked him if he was ill. 

No, I am not ill.” And by this time his mind 


262 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


had arrived at the conclusion as to what Nora 
Hammond had been to the Earl of Montford, who 
had gone to Virginia, and married her, while he 
had a lawful wife living in Home. That wife 
being Hugh Moreland’s own almost idolized sister. 
Lulu had a son who, by right of law, would 
inherit the title of his wretched father, and 
become heir to the old but impoverished house of 
Montford. Lulu, his sister, must have justice, 
and her child must not live to blush at any 
stigma upon his birth. Then, the proud-spirited, 
imperious Mrs. Eussell, — what would be the feel- 
ings of her heart when she learned that her 
young and innocent daughter had never been 
Lord Montford’ s wife ? Laying Nora away in her 
grave had been hard to endure, but this terrible 
knowledge would be ten thousand times more 
bitter even than death, to a woman of her 
nature. The grave, in a certain degree, hides 
our most bitter sorrows ; but a living sorrow is an 
ever consuming flame in the tortured heart; and 
then Mrs. Eussell would reflect on her own folly 
in bringing this new and added sorrow upon 
herself. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


263 


Moreland’s humane heart bled for her, and he 
who had suffered so much bj her pride and ambi- 
tion would have kept this blow from falling upon 
her already crushed heart, if possible ; if he 
could have done so in justice to others. But he 
could not. There was one who must not know 
the truth, if possible, for a time at least. Hugh’s 
great heart beat with a strange, wild throb, and 
taking his friend’s arm, he said : 

^^Now, Peyton, do not ask a single question 
until we reach our hotel, for I want to think.” 

Peyton leveled his dark gray eyes upon his 
friend’s, and his swarthy face flushed as he said : 

Just this one question, — have you found her?” 

In a pity to his friend’s devotion Moreland 
answered, ^^Yes.” 

Not another word was spoken by either until 
they reached the hotel, and were safe in Hugh’s 
rooms. Then he sat down and told the whole 
story of Lulu’s life and marriage with Lord Mont- 
ford as she had told it to him. And now my 
friend,” he said, Lulu is a widow, and I do most 
sincerely hope she will in time reward you with 


264 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


her hand and heart. You truly deserve her ; for 
was it not you who saved her, both body and 
soul?^’ 

Peyton was greatly surjDrised by the story Hugh 
told him ; but not surprised to learn that Lulu 
was a wife, and as free from any taint of sin in 
that respect as the pure angels in heaven, for he 
had never for a moment lost faith in her purity 
of soul, but he was surprised that Lulu’s husband 
should prove to be the Earl of Montford ; and 
after some moments of deep reflection he sud- 
denly lifted his face and asked : Moreland, are 

you not glad that your love is dead, and lies 
sleeping in her grave, ere she knew of this bitter 
truth and humiliation ? ” 

He spoke in a low voice as if to soothe the 
anguish he knew must rend his friend’s heart. 
Hugh suddenly lifted his white face and in thrill- 
ing tones answered : No, Beverly Peyton, I 

could not rejoice at Nora’s death, under any con- 
siderations, no matter what they were. I have 
loved her with all the strength of my soul ; and 
the day may come when I can prove to you, and 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


265 


all the world how much I did love her. After we 
have dined I will call upon my sister, and inform 
her of the fate that has overtaken one, who has 
caused us both so much sorrow, and to-morrow I 
will present you, after that I must again cross the 
Atlantic. I have a grave duty, but a pleasant 
one, to perform in Virginia. In the course of a 
few months I may return to Eome; and if I 
should do so I will not come alone.” 

A faint blush mantled his fair brow, and his 
blue eyes shone with all the tenderness of a 
gentle woman’s. Peyton took his friend’s hand, 
saying : I am glad to hear you say this ; but 

oh, Hhou consistent advocate of a one and only 
love,’ please tell me the name of the fortunate 
lady.” 

Blushing scarlet, Hugh Moreland answered : 
have a very warm attachment, mind you I do not 
say love, for a young lady living under a cloud 
for the present in Virginia, who signs her name 
^ Kose Cleveland ; ’ and as it is not good for man 
to go through life alone, on reaching Virginia I 
shall certainly try to prevail upon Miss Cleveland 


266 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


to become my wife ; as yet I do not exactly know 
with what success. Is it your intention to return 
to Virginia this Spring/’ Hugh asked, looking 
closely into his face. 

It now was Peyton’s turn to blush as he asked : 
“ Does your sister return with you ? ” 

No ; not now,” answered Hugh, she will 
remain in Rome for some time. She is doing well 
here, and perfectly devoted to her art, and is loth 
to leave it.” 

Then in a low dreamy sort of voice, Beverly 
Peyton answered Moreland’s question. 

Thank you, my friend, I shall not return to 
Virginia this year. I think I can find as wide a 
field for benevolent labor in this ancient city with 
its churches and domes, as I can in Richmond.” 

I dare say you can, my friend, but I suppose 
you remember the old adage, that charity begins 
at home.” And he wrung his friends hand with 
a hearty, God bless you,” and started for Lulu’s 
home. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


267 


CHAPTER XXYI. 


A GLOOMY HOUSE. 

“ Gloom is upon tliy lonely hearth, 

0 silent house! once filled with mirth; 
Sorrow is in the breezy sound 

Of thy tall poplars whispering round. 

, The shadow of departed hours 
Hangs dim upon thine early flowers; 
Ee’n in thy sunshine seems to brood 
Something more deep than solitude. 

Fair art thou, fair to a stranger’s gaze, 
Mine own sweet home of other days ! 
My children’s birthplace! — yet for me 
It is too much to look on thee. 

Too much! for all about thee spread, 

1 feel the memory of the dead. 

And almost linger for the feet 

That never more my step shall meet.” 


— Felicia Hemans. 


HE gayly-plumaged songsters of the forest 



JL made the May morning ring with their 
sweet songs, seeming to rejoice in the verdure of 
the trees, and the delicate perfume of many 
flowers, that was wafted to the sense by the soft 
south winds, that fanned and kissed them into 
life and beauty. To strangers, Beechlands was 


268 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


almost a paradise, but to the lonely heart of the 
now solitary woman who dwelt there, every room 
and corridor was haunted with old memories. 
This May morning she walks up and down the 
front piazza, with a haggard look upon her face, 
the face that had been so proudly beautiful and 
youthful, now as pale as marble, in great contrast 
to the mourning dress that fell around her deli- 
cate figure. Days and nights of wretched loneli- 
ness are bringing furrows in the corners of her 
eyes, and silver threads are plainly visible among 
the braids of her dark hair. She is very unhappy. 

Captain Eussell was still absent. He had re- 
mained away, week after week, until nearly four 
months had passed. He wrote to her now and 
then, but gave her no positive reasons for his 
absence, or why he had gone from Beechlands 
upon the very day she was to remove her 
daughter’s remains. She is so deeply miserable 
this morning that it seems to her as if the little 
singing birds, and sweet flowers, and the glorious 
May sunshine, and everything else in nature are 
mocking her woe. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


269 


After a little the ever faithful Nancy appears 
upon the piazza, bearing the boy in her arms. 
The sad mother looks into his sweet, baby face to 
see if she can trace the faintest resemblance, in 
any one of his features, to her first-born. She 
can not, for little Hugh is a miniature picture of 
his father ; and taking him in her arms, she 
showers kisses upon his face, with a heart nearly 
broken from its load of deep remorse; and slTe 
earnestly praj^s God to spare her this one, only 
source of comfort. Somehow, this morning the 
cloud seemed darker over her sky than ever 
before, and she finally motioned Nancy to take 
the child away. When she was again left to 
herself, her eyes wandered in the direction of the 
crystal stream. She could catch bright glimpses 
of laughing waters through the openings beneath 
the willows ; could look upon the spot where her 
daughter had been laid to rest ; but she was not 
there now. But, oh heaven ! where was she ? 
This was ever one of the cries of this agonized 
woman’s heart. While standing there she saw a 
man come slowly toward the mansion. 


270 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


When he reached the statue of the water nymph 
he paused and looked for the little mound ; but it 
was gone ; and while a sickening shudder passed 
through his frame, he passed on. 

A glad light came into the lady’s eyes as she 
recognized Hugh Moreland. As he came up the 
steps she met him with outstretched hands. She 
was surprised to see how well and happy he 
looked ; and in her heart asked herself if he had 
forgotten Nora, while at a glance Hugh could see 
that the worm of remorse had eaten deep into 
this woman’s very soul, and he shrank from 
inflicting another pang. 

^^This is indeed a happy surprise. Doctor More- 
land. When did you reach Richmond ? ” 

I came in on the morning train to-day, and 
set out on foot for Beechlands, without even 
stopping long enough to refresh myself with a 
cup of coflee, or of letting any of my friends 
know that I was back again.” 

Mrs. Russell took the hint, and after conduct- 
ing her visitor into the cool morning-room, rang 
the bell, which was soon answered by Cornelia. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


271 


Tell Aunt Hannah to prepare some breakfast 
for Doctor Moreland at once/’ said Mrs. Russell. 
Then seating herself, she said : 

Doctor Moreland, I am glad you have come. 
Of course you received the letters I wrote to you 
in March, directed to Paris ? ” 

No, Cousin Helen, I did not receive any 
letter from you in Paris, for I was in Rome. 
Was this a letter of importance ? ” 

I will tell you its contents and leave you to 
judge,” she said. Then she proceeded to tell 
him of the flood that had swept over the valleys 
of the James, and afterward of her plan to have 
the remains of Nora and her father removed to 
higher ground, and of the little, empty coffin 
taken from the grave. While telling this, she 
looked him full in the face. Once or twice, 
during this recital, his face flushed slightly, then 
grew a shade paler; but there was no look of 
guilt upon it. Mrs. Russell even imagined that 
she could detect a sort of triumphant look in his 
blue eyes that she could not exactly understand. 

Just then Cornelia entered, saying that the 
17 


272 


UN^DEK THE WILLOWS. 


Doctor’s breakfast was waiting. After that had 
been dispatched, Hugh returned to Mrs. Eussell. 
He turned his conversation upon other themes, 
giving his hostess no possible chance to resume 
the former subject. 

Where is Captain Russell ? I did not have the 
pleasure of meeting him last summer.” 

He is in Boston at present/’ answered Mrs. 
Russell, trying hard to suppress the tears that 
nearly choked her utterance, and Hugh knew at 
once there was a skeleton in the closet ” of 
Beechlands. 

Have you no female companion, cousin 
Helen ? I thought you had a Miss Cleveland with 
you. She is a friend of mine, and sometimes I 
receive letters from her, and when I knew she 
was at Beechlands as your companion I felt very 
happy. She is a worthy person, to whom I 
rendered a great service in New York after leav- 
ing Beechlands last August; and I hoped on my 
arrival to find her here also.” 

Mrs. Russell noticed that every time this man 
mentioned the name of Rose Cleveland every 
lineament of his features revealed a love for her. 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 273 

She laid her hand upon his arm and said, in a 
reproachful tone, Hugh, you love this woman ? 
Oh, have you forgotten Nora, my beautiful one ? ’’ 
No, no ! Mrs. Kussell, I have not forgotten 
Nora ; but I shall ask Miss Cleveland to be my 
wife, and if she consents, try to be as happy as 
possible, that is if I can find her. Now tell me 
the truth, cousin Helen, was it not through Miss 
Cleveland that some little unpleasantness arose 
between you and your husband.” 

Mrs. Russell dropped her troubled eyes to the 
floor in a thoughtful mood, and finally answered : 

You are right. There %b an unpleasantness 
existing between Captain Russell and myself, or 
rather an estrangement, and Miss Cleveland is 
the immediate cause of it. There is a secret in 
her life, and Captain Russell knows of it ; but I, 
woman like, tried to wring this secret from him, 
for it made me very wretched and unhappy to 
see another woman kiss my husband’s hand, and 
shed tears over it.” 

Then you did not obtain Miss Cleveland’s 
secret?” 


274 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


No, Hugh. I sometimes think it was to keep 
me from torturing his soul that mj husband went 
from me.’^ 

If so, God bless Captain Eussell, and his noble 
magnanimity in giving up home, wife and child, 
rather than to betray a poor unfortunate being, 
like Kose Cleveland. Cousin Helen, you have a 
noble husband ; and may God in his mercy, and 
in his own good time, reunite you again in har- 
mony and peace. Now let us change the subject. 
I have at last found my sister Lulu; and her 
name is cleared from all the dark suspicions that 
rested upon it, when she applied to you for 
sympathy.” 

Moreland then and there told Nora’s mother of 
all the deep-dyed villainy of which the Earl of 
Montford had been guilty. She was not so over- 
whelmed with this piece of news as Hugh thought 
she would be. She said: have been con- 

vinced that Lord Montford was connected with 
Lulu in some way, ever since Nora’s return last 
summer. Lulu will not live with Lord Montford, 
will she, after the villainous part he has played 
towards her and Nora?” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 275 

Is it possible that you have not heard of the 
Earl’s death ? ” said Hugh in some surprise. 

Dead ! the Earl of Montford dead ? No ! I 
had not heard of his death. When and where 
did he die?” 

He was lost in April, in crossing the English 
Channel from Calais to Dover. I thought you 
had in all probability read in the newspapers an 
account of it ere this.” 

^^No, I failed to see this account,” said this 
subdued mother sorrowfully ; then all of a sudden 
she said : Oh ! cousin Hugh, for the love of 

heaven, and for the sake of the great love you 
once professed for my child, try to clear the 
mystery of that empty coffin for me, and I will 
give you all I possess on earth, save my husband 
and child, if you will exact it; and then bless you 
all my life. This terrible uncertainty is killing 
me.” 

As Hugh looked upon her pale, suffering face, 
he was seized by a mighty temptation, but he was 
human and murmured in his heart, ‘^not yet.” 
He only said : I will certainly do all I can to 


276 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


bring comfort to your wounded heart; but can 
you give me any idea as to where Miss Cleveland 
can be found ? ” 

Mrs. Kussell thought for a moment, then said : 
^^If Miss Cleveland is in Virginia, I think she 
may be in Saint Mary’s. Doctor Mott will 
probably be able to give you the desired infor- 
mation concerning her.” 

Hugh left Beechlands with the promise to 
return again in a few days. 

From Beechlands he went to Holly Cottage, 
where Jerry was to call for him in the course of 
an hour with the carriage, to take him into Rich- 
mond. How well he remembers the night spent 
here at this little humble cottage, or rather a part 
of it, the August before ; and as he thinks of the 
experience of that night, he shivers ; that beauti- 
ful white face and the little rosewood coffin have 
been ever before his mind. He is growing 
accustomed to that vision, and is now anxiously 
in search of Miss Cleveland. Hugh was glad 
when Jerry finally appeared with the carriage, 
and in less than an hour s time he was in Doctor 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


277 


Mott’s office. Here he learned from liis old friend, 
that Miss Cleveland was boarding at St. Mary’s 
Convent. He wrote a hasty note, asking Miss 
Cleveland to call at Doctor Mott’s. When this 
was sealed and directed, he asked Doctor Mott to 
allow his office boy to take it to St. Mary’s for 
him. 

Certainly, Hugh, my boy. But what the 
duece is this Miss Cleveland to you ? ” 

Hugh smiled faintly, and said : Now that we 

are alone Mott, sit down, and I will tell you a 
strange story.” 

Then he told that strange, strange story. His 
old friend was so astonished that it was several 
moments ere he could speak ; then rising he came 
to Hugh’s side, and laid his hand kindly upon his 
sunny brown hair, saying in a pitiful tone, Poor 
hoy, poor Hugh ; trouble and much learning have 
made you Muny.’ What you have told me is 
impossible or next to it.” 

Hugh only smiled at the speech, and said : 

Wait, my friend until you see Miss Cleveland. 
But now that you have my confidence in full. 


278 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


what is your advice to me?’’ Hugh asked anx- 
iously. 

Doctor Mott took several turns across the floor 
before he answered. Then he said, My advice 
is this : Marry Miss Cleveland at once. To-day 
if possible, ere this dreaded conviction reaches her, 
otherwise she will never be your Arife. Marry 
her. Then telegraph for Captain Russell, and 
when he comes, and Miss Cleveland is your wife, 
we will all go out to Beechlands and have expla- 
nations all around.” Looking at his Avatch he 
said : It is noAv three o’clock. Miss Cleveland 

AAull be here by five. You remain in this office to 
meet her on her arrival, I Avill visit a patient, and 
then hunt up Hal MattheAA^s, (I hope my readers 
have not quite forgotten this character,) and he 
AAdll fix up this business before you knoAV it.” 

Doctor Mott took his hat and left the office. 
Hugh Moreland kneAv that he AA^ould have ample 
time to step around to the telegraph office and 
send off a telegram, before Miss Cleveland could 
possibly arrive from St. Mary’s; and he started 
out for this purpose. On the steps he met a tall, 


TINDER THE WILLOWS. 279 

handsome, middle aged man with dark hair and 
gentle blue eyes, who asked : 

Is this Doctor Hugh Moreland 
Moreland is my name, sir, and you are — ’’ 

‘^Tom Russell,” said the kindly faced stranger. 

Hugh took the outstretched hand and pressed 
it warmly, saying : Captain Russell, I am more 

than happy to meet you. I was just on my 
way to telegraph to you ; and now that it is not 
necessary for me to leave this office, come in and 
we will have a few moments private conversation, 
before the arrival of Doctor Mott and others I 
am expecting.” 

^^Yes, I understand it all. Doctor Moreland, I 
have had a few moment’s conversation with Doctor 
Mott, and I agreed with him ; ^ this marriage must 
take place at once,’ provided we can get Miss 
Cleveland to consent. And may heaven bless you 
both, for you deserve to be happy.” 


280 UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


CHAPTER XXYII. 


AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING. 

“ Then before all they stand — the holy vow 
And ring of gold, no fond illusions now, 

Bind her as his. Across the threshold led, 

And every tear kissed off as soon as shed. 

His house she enters, — there to be a light. 

Shining within, when all without is night; 

A guardian angel o’er his life presiding. 

Doubling his pleasures and his cares dividing, 
Winning him back when mingling in the throng, — 
Back from a world we love, alas! too long. 

To fireside happiness, to hours of ease. 

Blest with that charm, the certainty to please, 

How oft her eyes read his; her gentle mind 
To all his wishes, all his thoughts inclined ; 

Still subject, — even on the watch to borrow — 
Mirth of his mirth and sorrow of his sorrow! 

The soul of music slumbers in the shell. 

Till waked and kindled by the master’s spell. 

And feeling hearts — touch them but rightly — pour 
A thousand melodies unheard before.” 


— Samuel Rogers. 


ERY slowly did the minutes glide by, to 



Y Doctor Moreland as he sat waiting, watch- 
ing, and listening to every sound. At lengtli 
when two hours had passed by, after the arrival 
of Captain Russell, he heard a carriage roll 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


281 


rapidly up tlie street, and draw up before the 
office door. His old friend had not yet returned 
to his office. 

Hugh hastily arose, and, leaving Captain Kus- 
sell, went out. As he did this he saw a lady 
alight from the carriage. She petite in form, 
but her every movement was the embodiment of 
grace, at least so Moreland thought. A heavy, 
thick veil securely concealed her face. Her little 
feet had no sooner touched the pavement, than 
she felt her arm linked within that of one who 
said : 

Follow me into the Doctor’s private office.” 
When this was reached the speaker strained this 
veiled figure to his heart, as he exclaimed, in a 
low, deep, thrilling whisper : At last, at last, my 
darling, my brave, beautiful, storm-beaten love. 
Heavenly Father, I thank Thee that at last I can 
press this beloved form to my heart. Oh ! Father, 
does not this sweet and joyful moment repay me 
for some, if not all of the bitter and wretched 
years that have passed ? ” Then Hugh More- 
land fell upon his knees at this woman’s feet, and 


282 


UKDEK THE WILLOWS. 


passionately kissed the very hem of her trailing, 
sable garments. Arising, he said : Throw back 
your veil, my love, and let me remove these 
disfiguring glasses from these beloved eyes, so 
that I may look down into their pure, sweet 
depths once again.’^ 

Oh, how this woman’s soul thrilled under the 
passionate gaze now bent upon her; how her 
dark, bewitching face glowed with the beauty 
and brilliancy of a radiant sunset, as she was 
folded in the speaker’s arms, and he pressed kiss 
after kiss upon her face and brow, as he said : 
^^At last, my own sweet one, you are mine. 
Nothing now stands between us. Even your 
grave is completely obliterated, and all the years 
of suffering we have endured have so thor- 
oughly purified our souls that we can truly enjoy 
all the blessings sent to us. And now, life of 
my life and soul of my soul, you must become 
my wife at once. Captain Russell, Doctor Mott, 
and myself, taking all things into consideration, 
think it best that we should be married at once, 
ere any further explanations are made. We 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


283 


think it best not only on your account and mine, 
but for that of the lonely, weary, waiting, watch- 
ing heart of the mistress of Beechlands. I hope 
you understand me, my darling ? ” 

Yes, Hugh,’' was the answer, in a faint voice ; 

I understand you, but all this seems so hasty.” 
Yes, at first it may seem hasty. But when 
we take into consideration that other hearts than 
our own will rejoice at this marriage, you should 
not hesitate for a moment.” 

It was a long, long time ere Miss Cleveland 
gave her consent ; but after Hugh Moreland had 
finally prayed and pleaded with her, with all 
his eloquence and fervor, she yielded. ^ Then 
Doctor Moreland sought Captain Bussell, and 
hastily conducted him into the presence of the 
beautiful one that had caused his beloved wife so 
much trouble and so many bitter heart pangs. 
Yes ! very many ! And as this kind gentleman 
thought of this he could not refrain from laugh- 
ing softly to himself. After a conversation of 
some length, it was finally settled that the 
marriage should take place that evening, and 


284 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


that next morning Captain Kussell should go to 
BeechlandSj and a few hours later Moreland and 
his bride would follow him. 

Shortly after dusk, Doctor Mott and the clergy- 
man, Mr. Matthews, arrived. It needed but one 
look into that pale, dark face, with the disfiguring 
glasses removed, to convince Dr. Mott that Hugh 
Moreland had spoken truly. 

He recognized the sweet face of Miss Cleve- 
land the moment he looked into her bewitching 
eyes. 

Gentle reader, we must not tell too much now, 
but leave Captain Russell to make all clear in the 
morning. 

The following morn dawned bright and beauti- 
ful, and it seemed as if all nature had combined 
in making this day one of supreme enjoyment. 
On this bright, beautiful morning, as on the 
morning previous, Mrs. Russell was slowly pacing 
the piazza, and her thoughts, as ever, are with 
one far away. 

‘‘ Will he ever come ? How many suns will 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 285 

ri^e and set, ere I look upon his face again ? My 
weary heart is growing faint.’’ 

Again upon this morning Nancy brings the 
baby boy for his stricken mother to caress ; but 
this time she does not send him away with a kiss 
upon his baby lips, but instead, takes him in her 
arms, and tells Nancy to go for her garden hat, 
and, a little while after, is walking down the 
smooth, graveled walk, with little Hugh pressed 
to her aching bosom. It is a great feat for one 
of her small, delicate form to accomplish, for 
little Hugh Russell is now nearly one year old ; 
very stout and heavy for his age. So it is with a 
sigh of relief the mother reaches the rustic seat, 
and sinks down with her precious burden. The 
little fellow soon climbed from his mother’s lap, 
and with innocent, baby glee, began to gather 
the blue-eyed violets, and to bring and lay them 
in his mother’s lap, lisping ; See, mamma.” 

As she watches him she thinks of another who 
called her mamma,” and who had gathered 
violets on the same spot, with the same sweet, 
innocent joy, and the erring mother lowered her 


286 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


head and cried, for the first time : 0, God ! m}? 

punishment is just.” Such punishment should be 
visited upon every scheming, ambitious mother, 
who would sacrifice the happiness of her child on 
the altar of Mammon. 

How still sat this woman, who had brought 
down such an avalanche of woe upon her own 
head. She was unconscious of all that was pass- 
ing around her; but at length a voice spoke 
close to her ear, in tones so deep and full of love, 

“ And softly o’er her senses stealing 
Came a sound of music sweet.” 

At the sound of that voice she lifted her head, 
and saw her husband looking down upon her 
with a face beaming with happiness ; and gather- 
ing the form of his pale, careworn wife in his 
arms, he kissed her passionately, saying : Helen, 
my own dear love, we meet again. Let these 
trees, which have witnessed so much sorrow 
beneath their spreading branches, now feel the 
dawn of a glorious morning of peace.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS 


287 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 


A WEARY HEART FINDS REST AT LAST. 

“ Back, then, once more to breast the waves of life, 

To battle on against the unceasing spray, 

To sink o’erwearied in the stormy strife. 

And rise to strive again; yet on my way. 

Oh! linger still, thou light of better days! 

Born in the hours of loveliness: and you. 

Ye childlike thoughts: the holy and the true — 

, Ye that came bearing, while subdued I lay. 

The faith, the insight of life’s vernal morn 
Back on my soul, a clear, bright sense, new-born. 

Now leave me not! but as, profoundly pure, 

A blue stream rushes through a darker lake 
Unchanged, e’en thus with me your journey take. 

Wafting sweet airs of heaven thro’ this low world obscure.” 


Felicia Hemans. 


HERE was so much of joy in the heart of 



this woman, who had suffered so deeply, as 
she felt herself clasped to her husband’s bosom, 
that it was a long time before she could control 
herself sufficiently to answer him, save by her 
tears. When she had grown calm. Captain Rus- 
sell released her and took up his little son, 
remarking as he did so : Helen, my love, I was 
at a marriage last night. Can you guess who the 
contracting parties were ? ” 


18 


288 


U N D E K THE W I L L O W S . 


She lifted her head and her husband saw that 
her face was slightly flushed as she answered : 
‘‘ Hugh Moreland and Miss Cleveland/^ 

What little bird whispered this into your ear, 
my darling?” he said, stooping and kissing her 
lips, at the same time murmuring : Helen, are 
you jealous now ? ” 

I was never jealous of you. But I always 
thought that Miss Cleveland should have confided 
in me instead of you.” 

^^Ah! my Helen, that would never have done. 
It would have spoiled one of the sweetest little 
chapters in romance imaginable, as you will 
acknowledge in the end. Things, taking them as 
they come, usually turn out for the best, as I will 
prove to you.” 

^^Yes, Captain Bussell, there is a present joy 
that repays me for many anxious hours of watch- 
ing and waiting. But this strange marriage you 
tell me of, between Doctor Moreland and Miss 
Cleveland, brings up so forcibly to my mind her, 
who ought to have been his wife, I feel that I 
never can, in reality, be happy again.” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


289 


A smile passed over her husband's face as he 
arose, with little Hugh in one arm and taking his 
wife's hand, he said : Come on to the house, 
Helen, I have something to tell you. Something 
I do not wish to whisper even to the little, merry 
singing birds — something you must hear in the 
privacy of our own rooms. It concerns Miss 
Cleveland, or rather Mrs. Moreland now. It is 
the secret of her life. Do you not wish to hear 
it?" 

^^No, I am not particular. Perhaps you may 
betray her confidence, thinking to gratify my 
curiosity." 

No, no ! It is at her own request that I shall 
give you her secret." 

When they reached the house he gave his boy 
to the care of Nancy. Helen, my love, I feel 
faint. Give me some camphor or ammonia." 

Both articles were supplied at once, and given 
into his hands. Sinking down by the side of his 
wife, he put his arm around her and drew her 
affectionately to him, asking : 

Helen, do you think that joy ever kills?" 


290 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


With a startled look into his eyes, she answered : 
do not know, I have had so little of joy. You 
should ask' some one who has had more experi- 
ence than myself.’’ Then with a white face, she 
said: ^^You have gained a clue to the wherea- 
bouts of Nora’s remains. Oh! speak, for the love 
of heaven, and tell me if I am not right in my 
conjecture. Tell me, and remove this terrible 
uncertainty that has been hanging over me for 
months.” 

He saw that he would have to come to the 
point at once, and answered : Yes, Helen, I 

have news of Nora. What if your daughter had 
been buried alive — when the fever, which had 
been consuming her life’s blood for months, left 
her in a state resembling death — and that Hugh 
Moreland, who loved her above all things, had a 
yearning desire to look upon her face once more, 
and went and opened her grave the night follow- 
ing her burial, and made the discovery that she 
was not dead; then placed the coffin back in its 
resting place, while she who was taken from it 
was brought back to life?” 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


291 


He felt his listener tremble, and continued : 

Now, supposing this should have really hap- 
pened to your daughter, she most assuredly 
would wish to hide herself from her mother and 
her friends. For the Earl of Montford still 
lived, and might reclaim her as his wife — her 
who had suffered such untold misery at his 
hands.’' 

As Mrs.. Russell appeared to be very calm, the 
Captain further said : Miss Cleveland and your 
daughter are one and the same. I accidentally 
discovered her identity, and solemnly promised 
not to betray her, and at this moment Nora is 
Hugh’s wife and will be with you in a few hours.” 

It was a blessed piece of thoughtfulness on his 
part that he had called for the restorative before 
he began his story. At its conclusion, his wife 
fell a dead weight in his arms. He lifted her 
gently and laid her on a couch, while he tenderly 
bathed her face with camphor and held the 
ammonia to her nostrils. He called no one to his 
assistance. 

After what he thought was a very long time, 


292 


UNDEK THE WILLOWS. 


his wife opened her eyes, and a flood of tears 
relieved the tension at her heart. When she 
could sufficiently command her voice to speak, 
she asked: ^^Was it to keep me from wringing 
this secret from you, that you left me and our 
boy?” 

It was, my love,” he answered, stooping and 
kissing her lips. But come, my darling, arouse 
yourself and inform the servants of what I have 
told you, for soon you may clasp your daughter 
to your heart. She is not a Countess, but a pure, 
sweet woman, who has suffered much, and who is 
now the wife of one among the noblest of God’s 
creation.” 

She twined her arms around her husband’s 
neck, and wept from the purest, deepest joy that 
can ever come to a mother’s heart. 

The living die always, and leave us, but it 
is very seldom indeed, that our dead come back 
to us.” 

When Mrs. Bussell informed Nancy of what 
had taken place, her joy knew no bounds, and 
she and Jerry mingled their tears of gratitude 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


293 


together. Aunt Hannah fell upon her knees, and 
cried : 

‘^Rejoice, chillun, for de kingdom is at han’ 
0, Ben Bolls, an’ my daughter Comely, pray dat 
you will not be led into temptations.” 

Hush up, mammy. De kingdom am not yet 
come, dis is jis’ one oh de signs an’ wonders,” 
said sensible Cornelia. Come, git up an’ let us 
go to work, an’ prepare a feast in honor oh Mr. 
and Mrs. Doctor Moreland. Mars Hugh am worf 
more dan all de Yearls, an’ such bad people as 
dar is in de Britainy Islands or de tother place 
eider ; an’ for my part I fink it vey nat’ral dat de 
Lord should send Miss Nora back ’pon de yarth, 
now dat dat hansom, violet-eyed debbil am gone 
to poke fires below. For God am good an’ lubs 
his chillun; an’ Miss Nora an Mars Hugh lubed 
each other so well, de blessed chile was jis sent 
back from de oder worle, to make Mars Hugh an 
Miss Helen happy, an to gib dem a fore taste ob 
hebben.” 


Let us pass over the meeting of mother and 


294 


UNDER THE WILLOWS. 


daughter, and we will also pass over the nine 
days’ wonder and gossip, that thrilled society 
when it became known that Nora Hammond still 
lived. ]n June, Doctor Moreland and his idolized 
bride sailed for France. Nora knew now that 
she had never been the wife of Lord Montford; 
and one evening, as she and her husband paced 
the upper deck of the gallant steamer, she said : 

Hugh, it is well for you I did not know all, at 
the time you urged our hasty marriage. If I 
had, I should have refused you, even though I 
had died in doing so.” 

I knew that, my love,” replied Moreland, as 
he drew and pressed her close to his heart, 
adding : It is indeed well that we cannot know 
all things.” 

In Europe, wherever they appeared, Moreland 
was recognized as one of the most eminent phy- 
sicians of his day, and the homage and pleasures 
of society that Nora had missed, as Countess of 
Montford, she now enjoyed to the full. Her rare 
beauty and accomplishments won Mrs. Moreland 


UITDEE THE WILLOWS. 


295 


many friends abroad, and it was a theme of great 
wonder among them why so many .gray hairs 
gleamed amid her raven tresses, while her face 
was so youthful and happy. 

A year later Hal Matthews went to Home, by 
an urgent and especial invitation from his friend 
Peyton, to perform the sacred rites of marriage 
between himself and his golden-haired waif.” 

When this pleasant task had been accomplished, 
our friends spent one year in travel ; then they all 
returned to Virginia. 

Peyton’s fortune had nearly doubled itself, and 
he and his charming artist wife live almost within 
the shadow of the Capitol, in Richmond. The 
poor, needy and distressed always find in them 
true friends and real relief. Lulu never went 
near Castle Clyde. The Dowager Countess still 
lived, and she did not care to come in contact 
with her. 

Mrs. Russell and the Captain live very happily; 
but Nora’s mother never forgot the terrible and 
bitter lesson her foolish pride and ambition taught 


296 UNDER THE WILLOWS. 

her. She understood that wealth and position 
were good things to be obtained, provided they 
are gained with a heart’s pure love ; otherwise 
they are a hell upon earth, and a mockery to our 
miserable existence. 

Hugh Moreland and his wife are blessed with a 
son and a daughter ; and the fond mother is very 
tender and considerate with her little Helen, who 
often sits and listens with great, wondering, blue 
eyes, so much like her father’s, as Nancy tells 
her the story, why her beautiful, idolized mother’s 
hair is so gray ; and the tender little one knows 
the spot where the grave of her mother, still liv- 
ing, was made; and her young voice sounds 
strange and sweet, as it rings out in rippling, 
silver tones over the crystal streams : Thank 
God, my mother did not die.” 


THE END. 


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UNDER THE WILLOWS 

OR, 

TEE THREE COEETESSES. 

BY MRS. ELIZABETH VAN LOON 

Author of “A Heart Twice Won,” and of 
‘‘The Shadow of Hampton Mead.” 


“ Under the Willows,” by Mrs. Elizabeth Van Loon, author of 
*‘A Heart Twice Won,” and “ The Shadow of Hampton Mead,” undoubt- 
edly shows that to compose an original and striking work of prose fiction 
is not among “the lost arts,” about which a great orator used eloquently 
to discourse some years ago. Most of the characters are American, but 
the action shifts from the New World to the Old— from this country to 
Europe, France, and Italy. This is a strange mixture of reality and 
romance. Characters the most contrasted are brought together in the 
strangest and the most unexpected combinations. Incidents the most 
startling are adroitly narrated with so much vraisemblance that the reader 
will be puzzled how to take them ; yet the improbable eventually turns 
out to be the truth, and what might be anticipated from their results does 
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compositions of its class. In this respect it eclipses “A Heart Twice 
Won,” and “ The Shadow of Hampton Mead,” preceding and popular 
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“ Under the Willows,” and “The Shadow of Hampton Mead.” One 
large duodecimo volume, morocco cloth, black and gold. Price $1.50. 

THE SHADOW OF HAMPTON MEAD. A Story of Three Families. By 
the author of “A Heart Twice Won,”. and “ Under the Willow.s.” One 
large duodecimo volume, morocco cloth, black and gold. Price $1.50. 


Above Books are for sale by all Booksellers and Nctcs Agents, or 
copies of either, or all of them, will be sent to any one, to any 'place, at 
once, per mail, post-paid, on remitting price to the publishers, 

T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, 

LE^e 10 306 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 






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